This chapter is dedicated to MissMooney86 who gave me the idea of putting in the end of Draco and Hermione's date. Originally the chapter didn't have it and I'm so glad I put it in because it was really fun to write! Thank You for the idea.

Minervangel- I think I already sent you a message answering your review so check your inbox!

Random Aussie- Thank You!

Lucifer's Draco- Thank you!

ScatteredVisonShatteredDreams- It's Draco and Hermione- there's no way their first date could run smoothly and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Kazfeist- Thank You and well done you guessed partially right!

MissMoony86- Thank you for your lovely review and even more for your wish to see Hermione's reaction to a second date. It was actually the reason I wrote it in. It wasn't originally included and when I read what you wrote the idea popped into my head and I had to include it!

Soccercrazyfreak- Thank You!

Avdreader- Thank You!

Mali- Thank You! I'm glad you like it so far!

Christianmom- Well done for guessing right and I will definitely check out your fic when I get the time!

Ebm56- Thank you for the review and well done for guessing right!

Avanell- Aw, Thank You!

"…Their relationship wasn't without its ups and downs…"

Hermione couldn't keep the smile of her face all day. Tonight she and Draco were going to celebrate their three month anniversary. It was also the night that she hoped to take their relationship to the next level. If she didn't know it and hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have thought it impossible for Draco Malfoy to commit to an exclusive relationship, let alone go without sleeping with someone for those three months. Hermione felt a giddy feeling build up inside her as she thought over the time they'd spent together. She did a little twirl and came face to face with Blaise, who'd been leaning against the doorway of her office, a teasing smile on his face.

Blaise congratulated himself on a job well done. The last three months he'd seen a completely revived Hermione and he wasn't above taking the credit for it. He moved into her office and sat down on one of the chairs opposite her desk.

"I'm guessing you're thinking about tonight and that's what's got you acting all mushy?" Blaise teased. Hermione smiled back at him.

"I seem to remember a certain someone acting in exactly the same manner not two days ago." Hermione retorted.

Blaise blushed slightly and his smile grew as he thought about his own three month anniversary with Eliza. He'd cooked her an Italian meal (her favourite lucky for him) and for dessert they'd feasted on each other until the early hours of the morning.

Hermione smiled at the blush staining Blaise's cheeks. She was happy for him. Eliza was everything he needed. Strong, funny and most importantly, dirtier in bed than Blaise was meaning there was little chance of him getting bored like he often had before.

"Yes and I remember a certain someone teasing me at the time." Blaise said.

Hermione felt heat stain her cheeks before they both burst out laughing.

The evening couldn't come quick enough in Hermione's opinion. The whole day she'd been reminiscing about the last three months, shaking her head in how silly she'd been in thinking that the first date would be their last.

ooo

Hermione couldn't believe how quickly the time had gone by. She and Draco had been sitting in the Leaky Cauldron for hours and it only felt like a few minutes. She wanted to spend more time talking to him. Her mind quickly reminded her that Draco was only here for one date and one date only. The smile slid off her face.

Draco noticed her face fall and his mind immediately whisked through the conversation they'd had for the second time this evening. When he came up with nothing he hesitated before asking her what was wrong. He'd been enjoying her company immensely and didn't want to know what he'd stupidly done this time to offend her. Realising that he couldn't sit through the rest of the date with his mouth shut he said her name softly.

"Granger?"

Hermione shook her head as if she was coming out of a daze before the smile reappeared.

"Sorry Malfoy, my mind just wondered off for a second." She replied.

Hermione looked at him for a moment. He was sitting right in front of her, he might not be tomorrow or the next day as she wished, but he was here now. Might as well make the most of it. Or she would have if Tom hadn't come up to their table and informed them that he was about to close for the evening but he had some rooms free if they wanted to stay the night.

Draco's eyes immediately moved from the barkeepers face to Hermione's. He watched in amusement as the witch tripped over her words in embarrassment as she hurriedly explained to Tom that they weren't together in that way and therefore would definitely not need any rooms.

Merlin, Hermione was going to die in humiliation. Once Tom had scampered away with their bill and a huge tip courtesy of Draco, her cheeks were still aflame and her eyes were fixed resolutely on the patch of skin between Draco's eyes.

"Shall we?" Draco smiled as he stood up to leave, he couldn't believe her cheeks hadn't returned to their pre blush colour. Hermione quickly stood up a second after him and they both moved to the exit.

Once outside they both stood in silence awkwardly. Hermione didn't have a clue what to do now. With any other date she would have kissed them good-bye on the cheek and apparated away but this wasn't any other date. The circumstances around their date occurring were more business like than anything else. At the end of business meetings she would shake her partner's hand before apparating away - is that what she should do now?

Draco watched her as she contemplated something in her mind. He liked it when she wandered off like this. It gave him a chance to stare at her for long periods of time without looking away in the hopes of showing that he was not an obsessed stalker. Should he try to kiss her goodnight? It had been just under a decade since he'd gone on a date where the evening hadn't ended up with him and his date tumbling into his bed. Did she want to see him again? What if she had only come tonight because she felt obligated? He cleared his throat which unfortunately caused Hermione to switch her gaze to rest firmly on him.

Upon hearing the sound of Draco clearing his throat Hermione quickly turned to face him again. So, he was in a hurry to leave was he? The rational side of her brain countered with an "Of course he's in a hurry to leave, normal dates didn't last five plus hours." Hermione fought the feeling of sadness as she realised he had seen their date as a business meeting, but she pushed it aside. Handshake, definitely a handshake. She stuck out her trembling hand but instead of clasping his in return it jabbed him in the stomach.

Draco had decided a peck on the cheek would be the most suitable form of action. It was gentlemanly and when it came to this witch he would always be a gentleman first and randy bugger second. He leaned in to kiss her when her hand jabbed into his stomach. He moved back in slight shock. Oh Merlin had he read the signs wrong? Hermione stood wide-eyed and frozen, her hand still stuck out in front of her. Merlin, he had read the signs wrong. She wanted to shake his bloody hand!

Hermione had never been so embarrassed, well she had, but at that moment it felt like she hadn't been. Was he leaning forward to kiss her? Or maybe hug her? This line of thought was stopped as Draco clasped her hand before shaking it up and down once, twice before quickly letting go. Hermione dropped her own hand back to her side and it formed into a fist as she in vain, tried to keep the warmth from Draco's hand around her own.

Another awkward silence fell between them. Draco fervently hoped his mouth would open and speak but it didn't. Hermione who didn't want another period of mortifying silence quickly filled it when it became perfectly clear he wasn't interested in saying anything further.

"Well Malfoy, thank you for the date. I had a nice time and once again WWO thanks you for the donation you made." She took in a deep breath to prepare her for apparating away.

Draco saw this and immediately spoke. "So when's our next date?" At that precise moment he wished he had a Time-Turner. The look on her face when the hasty words escaped his mouth dashed away any remaining optimism he had that she might have wanted to see him again.

Hermione's brow weaved together in confusion. He was asking her out again? Oh of course, he wasn't aware Blaise's bid was just for the one date. Or maybe he was aware and he wanted to see her again. She had to make sure.

"Um Malfoy, you do know that the bid was only for one date right?" she asked cautiously.

Draco's hope dropped even further when he heard her words. Trying to regain an ounce of the dignity he'd just lost he replied nonchalantly. "Oh, well that's a good thing. I wasn't aware of the little details."

Hermione's heart fell. Of course that was the reason. What did she expect it to be? She gave him one last smile.

"Goodnight Malfoy."

"Goodnight Granger."

It was ten hours later when Blaise visited both Hermione and Draco to see how their date had turned out that he realised how brainless they both actually were when it came to each other. Upon hearing both sides on what they thought the other was thinking at the end of the date, he could only shake his head in exasperation and floo back and forth between their respective homes for the next ten minutes until their second date was set up for the coming Friday.

ooo

There was no use in thinking on the "what if's", their second date had gone well as had the next and the next and now here they were. Hermione apparated home and rushed to get dressed, making sure that everything was right before apparating to Malfoy Manor.

She brushed off her robes before making her way to the library where she knew Draco would be busy working. He was more of a workaholic than she was! She rounded a corner and came to a sharp stop.

Pansy Parkinson, who she vaguely remembered seeing at the auction three months ago was emerging half dressed from Draco's bedroom. Thoughts and explanations immediately rushed through her mind but all went numb when Pansy caught sight of Hermione standing there frozen. A cruel smirk twisted her lips as she walked towards her.

"Enjoy my sloppy seconds Granger." She said, before walking away. Hermione watched her go silently before turning back in the direction of Draco's bedroom to see him surfacing from it. Catching sight of him woke Hermione from her stupor and she jerked back into reality with a painful gasp. Tears started filling her eyes.

"You bastard." She said. Draco's head whipped upwards to see Hermione standing there, his eyes like a deer caught in headlights.

Before he could utter a word Hermione apparated away.

ooo

"Merlin, this could not be happening," Draco thought. Damn Pansy, if she screwed up his and Hermione's relationship with her games and lies he would make that bitch pay.

Draco apparated to Hermione's apartment but it was empty. If she wasn't here he hoped she would have gone to Blaise's flat and not to Potter or Weasley's. He apparated there next; only to find himself landing in the corridor on the outside of Blaise's front door instead of his front room.

ooo

Hermione apparated into Blaise's front room and waved her wand, setting up wards before she fell to the floor sobbing. Blaise hearing the crying, came running out of the bedroom wand in hand, to find Hermione sat on the floor, shoulders shaking as she sobbed into her hands. Blaise rushed forwards and gathered her into his arms, pulling her up off the floor and settling her in his lap. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Eliza watching worriedly from the bedroom doorway. She'd come to know Hermione pretty well over the last three months when her and Blaise had gone out with Draco and Hermione but she knew Hermione wouldn't want her to hear whatever had caused her to break down like this. She caught Blaise's eyes and blew him a kiss before apparating away.

"Hermione, love. What happened?" Blaise whispered to the crying bundle in his arms. Hermione didn't respond, instead she started to cry even harder as her mind replayed the scene she'd seen, her mind filling in the blanks on what had happened in his bedroom.

A few minutes later when her sobs had turned into small hiccups Blaise decided to try again. "Love, what happened? Tell me what happened and I can help you."

Hermione tried to laugh at his words but it came out as a croaky sound. No-one could help her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and moved closer to the warmth coming from Blaise's body.

"He's been cheating on me...All this time... He's been sleeping with Pansy."

Blaise stiffened as he heard the words come out of Hermione's mouth. He couldn't believe it. He'd seen how ridiculously smitten Draco was with the witch who currently was viciously wiping her tears off her face.

"Love, are you sure? I mean did you actually see them together?" Blaise asked tentatively. Hermione moved her head of his chest and looked into his eyes.

"They both came out of his bedroom together. Pansy was only half dressed and she told me that I could have her sloppy seconds." Hermione's voice broke off as she neared the end of her sentence and she burrowed her head back into Blaise's chest. Blaise struggled to comprehend the information she was giving to him. Draco hated Pansy. Everything about her reminded him of the old Draco. The Draco he used to be at Hogwarts. He wouldn't willingly go near her with a ten foot broomstick.

Blaise glanced down at Hermione. She wasn't one to lie though. He stroked her hair and prayed fervently that Draco had a bloody good explanation; otherwise he wouldn't hesitate to beat him to a bloody pulp using only his hands.

ooo

Draco banged on the door to Blaise's flat. "HERMIONE" he screamed repeatedly. Inside the flat Hermione flew off Blaise's lap and stood up, frighteningly staring at the door. She turned to look at Blaise her eyes wide. Blaise looked back at her with sympathy before standing up and moving to take Hermione's cold hands in his.

"Love, you need to talk to him." He said. Hermione shook her head furiously, tears once again falling out of her eyes. "Even if it's just to break up properly, you need to let him have his say or he won't leave you alone."

Hermione's head understood what Blaise was telling her but her heart rejected it.

Blaise saw the turmoil in her eyes and made the decision for her. Moving towards the door he opened it and Draco flew in. His eyes fell on the broken witch standing in front of him, her arms crossed as they hugged her body, and he felt his heart breaking. Fucking Parkinson!

Blaise moved towards Draco. "You better have a bloody decent explanation or you and I are done." He threatened. Moving towards Hermione he rubbed her arm soothingly and told her that he would be waiting in the bedroom if she needed him before he walked out of the room.

ooo

Hermione couldn't look at Draco, instead choosing to focus on the floor underneath his feet. He was standing in the exact same position that she had apparated in.

"Hermione." Draco whispered brokenly. Anger filled her so quickly she saw black spots for a few seconds before her vision cleared. She looked at him and spoke.

"How could you? I thought I loved you, but I forget Draco Malfoy doesn't love anyone does he? Only himself. How long has it been going on Draco? Huh? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FUCKING HER BEHIND MY BACK?" she screamed.

Hearing Hermione curse at him caused Draco's mind to reconnect with his mouth. "Hermione, please. You have to believe me. I have never cheated on you once in the last three months. I loathe Pansy with every ounce of magic I have in my body."

"Oh please, I saw you come out of your bedroom together Draco! Her blouse wasn't even bloody closed. She had her knickers in her hands! In that much of a hurry to get her out of there before I came over?" Hermione scoffed.

"Hermione no! I came into my bedroom to get ready and she was lying there on the bed. I told her to get out. I promise you I never touched her." Draco pleaded.

His words were running through Hermione's head. She was so confused! She didn't know what to believe. Suddenly she heard a voice in her head. Victor's voice. "You can't leave me Hermione. Where else would you go? No-one will love you like I love you. Look at yourself."

Hermione let out a sob before looking back into Draco's eyes. She'd tried so hard, and it didn't even make a difference! Hours she'd spent with Ginny trailing around shops buying fancier clothes and better make-up, so that she could put herself in Draco's class of women. Fat lot of good that crap did!

"Was I too ugly for you? Did I not dress up enough when we went out?"

"What?" Draco asked her confused.

"Victor cheated on me for those reasons, so you must have too."

Draco's eyes lit up in anger at the thought of Hermione comparing him to that scumbag. Grabbing her arm tightly he apparated her out of Blaise's apartment.

ooo

As soon as Hermione's feet landed on solid floor, the hand Draco had not gotten a hold off came flinging round and started smacking in his chest. When that seemed to have no effect, Hermione moved her fingers to where Draco's were wrapped firmly around her arm and she tried to pry them off. This too had no avail.

Draco meanwhile was resolutely ignoring Hermione's attempts to free her arm and he took the time to look around the apartment he had visited only once previously when he was eighteen. "PARKINSON!" he shouted.

Hermione stopped fidgeting for a second when Draco yelled Pansy's name before going wide-eyed and began her efforts with renewed force. Why had Draco bought her here of all places? She didn't want to see the triumphant look in Pansy's eyes again! Stupid inbred ferret.

ooo

Draco yelled again before he moved towards Pansy's bedroom, dragging Hermione along with him. He opened the door to see Pansy hurriedly reaching for her wand that was lying on the vanity table at the far end of the room. Draco quickly placed a body-bind charm on her and watched as she fell to the floor with a painful thud.

Hermione who had been silently staring at the scene in front of her, realised Pansy's plan of apparating the hell away from here and she too reached for the wand in Draco's hand. Draco blocked her easily and held the wand out of Hermione's reach.

"Let me go Malfoy!" Hermione said, flailing her arm about wildly in a bid to get Draco's grip off her. Draco looked down to where Hermione's fingers were tightening around his and he saw finger shaped bruises on her arm. Draco loosened his hold to alleviate any pain he might have accidentally caused but it was enough for Hermione to prise his fingers away from her.

Hermione stepped back and away from Draco. She looked at him for a second before rushing to the vanity table where Pansy's wand was; jumping over the wand's current owner who was still lying haphazardly on the floor. Hermione's fingers where just about to close over wand when she found herself flying backwards in the air, coming to land in front of Draco who wrapped his arms around her body tightly.

"I don't think so sweetheart." He whispered in her ear. The term of endearment coming from his lips angered her further and she stomped down on Draco's foot hard. Draco instantly let go of Hermione and she once again ran to Pansy's wand.

"Bloody stubborn witch." Draco thought before he waved is wand twice more. Hermione found her body frozen in place and she fell towards the cushioned floor. Draco levitated her body towards the bed and placed her down gently on it. He moved his head so that his face was in Hermione's vision.

"Hermione listen to me. Firstly I'm sorry for body-binding you but you haven't given me any other choice. I brought you here so you can hear the truth straight from Parkinson's mouth that I have not been sleeping with her or even seeing her behind your back."

Draco moved back off the bed and made his way to the woman on the floor. As his eyes fell on her face he grew angry and he felt the old Draco Malfoy retuning. He released her from the body binding curse and lifted her up by her stick thin shoulders. He knew he was hurting her but right now he didn't care. He grabbed her small wrist tightly in his large hand and pulled her close to him.

"You are going to tell Hermione the truth about what just happened today or I swear that I will ruin every single aspect of your life so the only chance you have of living a semi-decent life is in the Muggle world." Draco ground the bones in her wrist causing her to whimper in pain. "Do you understand me Parkinson?"

ooo

Pansy who had been staring at the cold man in front of her recognised the graveness of his threat and she nodded quickly in fear. Living in a world where Draco Malfoy didn't want her was fine but living in a world where Draco Malfoy didn't exist at all would be torture.

Draco hauled her towards the Mudblood and she watched as he took the body-bind curse of her. Hermione felt the feeling come back in her muscles and she instantly pulled herself up into a sitting position.

"Tell her." Draco growled. Hermione's head turned to face Parkinson.

"I…I was…I was lying. I didn't sleep with Draco or do anything with him...today at least." Pansy said.

Draco growled in annoyance as she added the last part of the sentence. He couldn't believe he had sullied himself with her. He turned back to Hermione.

"Hermione?" Draco asked her uncertainly. Hermione was looking down at the clasped hands in her lap. She looked up at Draco. "Take me back home, now Malfoy."

Draco registered the tone of her voice and his shoulders slumped in defeat. She still didn't believe him.

Hermione moved to grasp his shirt covered elbow and the fact that she didn't want to touch him hit Draco hard in the stomach. He apparated them away to Hermione's flat.

When they reached her home Hermione quickly let go of Draco's shirt and stepped backwards putting some distance between them.

Author's Note: Please review. I've been getting tons of hits so I'd love to know what you all think!