A/N: Ok. So I went through some shit. Lost some shit. That shit happens to include all notes, files and chapters that I had completed on this story. [Along with a lot of other ones!] I've recently received some reviews, reread what I wrote and decided to renew it a little and see where it takes me. I haven't written any real good Dramione in a while, so bear with me while I get my sea-legs back! Thanks to anyone still bothering to read! Getting back on track, so I'll be holding off on the smut for a few chapters...patience ;)

Two warnings if you DO decide to read on:

1.)My writing style has changed a bit since I wrote the previous chapters. I still have my gooey and smutty moments, but my tone and diction have developed..lemme know what you think!

2.) I'm not going to get all of my own continuity down. I may change a few facts from the first six chapters. If it's a huge deal, message me and I'll fix it, but otherwise...go with the flow and enjoy.

Drip. Drip.

The sound, like a leaky faucet had haunted him since his first night in this cell. The guards claimed the sound was in his head. He shouted often, but the wizard on duty seemed not to notice. The insolence...didn't they know who he was? ...of course they did...a shudder ran through him. For a moment, Lucius Malfoy had forgotten that he was in Azkaban. He stared about at the opulence surrounding him. Cold, dark cobblestone made up the closet-sized space he inhabited. A mat with some rags lay neatly organized in one corner, his meager belongings lining the wall near his toilet. Even all the money in the world hadn't been enough to give him a little luxury in this shit-hole.

The rattle of a plastic tray dropping at the foot of his cell, snapped him out of his meditations on whatever leaky pipe was driving him slowly mad. Along with the scraps of food he'd try to keep down, they'd given him a copy of the Daily Prophet. Casting aside the food that would inevitably coat a corner of his cell after his afternoon bout of nausea, he grasped the paper, hoping for some news of his son.

He didn't have to look far. Adoring the front page, Draco Malfoy, wearing a smile he hadn't seen on him since he'd been a boy. While he smiled, Draco was hand in hand with a witch. Malfoy-heir and War-Hero Granger, out for tea? The headline boldly stated. Lucius's hand gripped the sensitive paper, a mane of barbaric hair coming into his sight. What was the boy playing at? When Draco had cut off communication with him, through the sting, he'd been proud. Draco had an image to protect and a company to run, there was no use in holding on to criminal family ties, even if paternal. They were not a family that relied on emotion and feeling...only success and power.

This...association, threatened that power. Blood purity was a staple in the Malfoy lineage and arranged marriages had thus far managed to assure this advantage. It seemed Draco was no longer following the status quo. Without bothering to read the article, he gathered his posessions...a piece of ratty parchment and a muggle writing instrument. Lucius needed a word with his precious wife.
Drip. Drip. Drip. With a snarl, he set to his letter.


"At first, it didn't matter. It was like being in some sappy movie for a minute. After the second or third picture, Draco drew his wand and the photographer tripped over himself on the way out the door."

Ginny smiled and poured a cuppa for the pair of them while they sat at the table and browsed baby things. "It's a good thing the Malfoy name comes with a big bank account, if only to keep him out of a cell for the night. But, I still don't see what the big deal is. It's a picture of a couple of friends at tea."

The brunette shot her a look. "Really, Gin? Friends, who used to be sworn enemies mind you, don't hold hands while at a casual morning brunch. This...thing...is something that we've just begun to explore ourselves. I'm not ready to invite all of the local wizarding community into our bed as well."

A fiery-red eyebrow shot up, "Our bed?"

"It's a figure of speech Ginevra!" Hermione shouted with no real menace. She sighed and sipped her tea while her friend smirked at her. "I want to make sure that if we do, or don't, get involved...it's our decision and ours alone." She hesitated a moment, staring at the cup resting in her palm. "Draco made me feel things that I didn't know were possible; and I don't just mean the sex. That's not it."

Mrs. Potter waited patiently to see if her friend was going to continue, but Hermione seemed to have reached limit for self-revelation at the moment. She cleared her throat. "Then, what's the next step? A date?"

At this, Hermione's face flushed a significantly darker shade and she took another telling sip of her tea. "We tried." She placed her index finger on the front page picture. "That was supposed to be our first date. At first, we were going to continue somewhere else, but erm – "

"But?" Ginny looked livid. "You didn't let that ruin your entire time, did it? I mean this is a big deal!"

"We ended up at my flat," she said avoiding eye contact.

Ginny gasped in recognition. "Oh...ooooh!" She smiled. "Well, then I was right. Must have been damn good!"

"Oh, Ginny, you have no idea!" she gushed, a hand to her chest. "He's like a crisp. Can't have just a taste, you want the whole bag."

Ginny took a baby pamphlet and fanned herself, crossing to the window to get a breeze moving through the house. "If we keep talking like this, I'm gonna have to call this meeting short for a quick interlude with Harry. Okay, again, maybe I'm a little slow, but why is that a bad thing? Sounds like a successful first date to me!"

"The only thing our pseudo-relationship stands on right now is really, really fantastic shagging. It's hard to go out in public with viewing eyes, but as soon as we have any semblance of privacy...we can't be trusted," she explained. "And I for one, don't want a relationship based solely on mutual physical attraction."

"Tonight then," Ginny said standing and grabbing some parchment from the kitchen. "Wednesday nights, Draco comes over for dinner, but tonight I can invite you!"

It was Hermione's turn to raise an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you guys were so close."

"Harry and him really hit it off after all the chaos of the war died down. I usually just make them something and leave them to it, but I think Draco appreciates a home-cooked meal," Ginny says this with a shrug, but Hermione is in awe.

When her and Draco had slept together during school, there had been no chance of anything but their one night. The night he'd been her prince. She was light, he was dark. She had her friends and he had his family. Now, in her absence, he was more apart of her friends' lives than she was. Without saying anything, Hermione crossed the room to her dearest friend and embraced her warmly. As usual, Ginny needed no words to understand the intent of Hermione's nonverbal message. Feeling more like herself than in years, Hermione sat down to help Ginny plan their dinner.