We had a blackout yesterday. It last 2 hours, but I had Hurricane Sandy flashbacks within minutes. I went to visit my old job because they had air conditioning. My boss offered me a job, so that was cool. It's good to have back up.

Chapter 7

"I could get used to this," Draco murmured as he held her in his arms that night.

Hermione sighed, resting her chin on his chest. "I have gotten used to this," she replied. "You know, you've frequently asked if I have any regrets, but I've often wondered if you have any. You do have a wife, after all."

He scoffed as he ran his fingers through her wild, untameable curls. "A wife I don't love," he reminded her. "And no, I don't have any regrets about us. I like being with you, and if you asked me to stay with you in this bed forever, I'd do it."

Hermione smiled. Her mind could focus only on the blond lying beside her. All thoughts of Ron and a wedding and the life she should want were forgotten when Draco held her, kissed her, made love to her. There were many times she considered asking him to stay before reality seeped into her world once again.

"What if we did?" she wondered. "What if we really just stayed here?"

"What about Weasley?" Draco asked. "Or Potter, for that matter? I take it they're still not privy to our friendship."

Hermione shook her head as she turned over and sat up. Hugging her knees to her chest, she wondered how much longer she could keep her secret, or Draco, for that matter. Feelings, strong feelings, had begun to develop, and she wasn't sure it would do to have them once she was married. She couldn't remain faithful to Ron in marriage if she kept Draco on the side. Though she hadn't managed to remain faithful during her engagement either, her mind was made up that this would end before the wedding.

"I don't want to think about them," she decided, lying down. "They don't exist in this room. In fact, no one else in the world exists in this room."

Draco chuckled as he held her close. "I think I've rubbed off on you a bit too much, Granger," he remarked. "You're almost as selfish as I am."

"I'm not being selfish. I'm choosing to avoid facing reality. There's a difference," she replied.

Draco stared at the ceiling. If he had it his way, he would choose Hermione. Their affair wouldn't have to remain a secret. It wasn't love, he knew that, but infatuation often felt like love. They hadn't discussed the future, allowing their relationship to exist only in the here and now, but it was a conversation they needed to have. Instinctively, his hold on her tightened.

"Is this over when you say 'I do'?" he asked.

Sighing, she moved out of his grasp. "I think so," she replied. "I don't know how to do this when I'm married."

"The same way you did it engaged," came Draco's retort.

Tossing back the blankets, Hermione bit her tongue to keep from saying something she might regret. Silently, she gathered her clothes and redressed. He said nothing to keep her from leaving, and so she walked out the door and returned home.

Once more, she was alone in her flat, angry and hurt by Draco's words. Minutes later, when the floo roared to life, she wondered if Draco had followed her. Instead, out stepped Ginny Weasley with a bottle of wine in one hand and a tub of ice cream in the other. "Harry's gone too," the redhead said sadly. "I thought we could wallow together."

Hermione grinned as she summoned two spoons and a corkscrew. "Come on in, friend," she replied. The women spent the night talking about everything but their partners as they ate and drank. They fell asleep on the sofa, the wine warming and the ice cream melting. It was in the early morning hours that Hermione awoke to a stiff neck and sore back. Ginny remained asleep as she left the couch to let in an owl that perched on the windowsill. She didn't recognize the bird, but had a feeling it belonged to Draco. With shaky fingers, she accepted the note, and read his apology.

Ginny awoke with a groan just as she finished reading. "Who's that from?" she wondered, working out the kinks in her back.

"Work," Hermione replied, balling up the letter. "Sorry, I have to go in today. We'll do dinner tonight." Without awaiting a reply, Hermione hurriedly dressed and Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron to meet Draco. He was seated at their usual booth with two cups of coffee. When he saw her, he offered a hesitant smile. "Pandering to my vices?" she inquired, sipping the steaming beverage.

"Whatever works, right?" he asked. "Um, I wanted to apologize in person for what I said last night. It was out of line, and I didn't mean to upset you. I just...I don't want this to end, and I'm afraid of losing you."

"And you thought snide comments about cheating on my fiance would do the trick?" she wondered. "You knew this couldn't last forever."

As more patrons entered, Draco feared that their secret would be found out. He suggested staggering their return to their usual room, with Hermione leaving first. Giving her a five minute head start, he left the pub for the back entrance. Entering their room, he stood with his back against the door while Hermione sat at the foot of the bed. "Are we ending this now?" he asked, desperate to break the silence and tension that permeated the room.

Sighing, she looked at him briefly, noting the sadness in his eyes, before looking away once more. "I told you I didn't feel guilty being with you, but what you said last night did make me feel that way," she said. "I should feel bad. Ron's going to be devastated if he ever finds out. But I'm not ready to give you up either."

"What about when you're married?" he asked. "Once the ring is on your finger, you'll be able to give me up then?"

Shaking her head, she stood and walked to him. Her hands rested on his chest, one right over his rapidly beating heart. "I don't want to," she confessed. "Don't purebloods do this kind of thing? They get married, but keep a mistress on the side. Why can't I do that too?"

"You want me to be your mistress?" he asked, failing to hide his mirth.

"Or whatever the male equivalent is," she amended. "All I know is I want you in my life, whether or not I'm married."