A/N Hello everyone. Here is the next chapter...could you please, please, pretty please with sugar on top review this story? If you have any suggestions, questions, comments, please hit that button and review! I have hardly any for this story so I don't know if you all are liking it or not. Thank you. Happy reading and don't forget to review.


Late for work

Hermione took a little longer in the shower than usual. Her stomach felt like it was in knots and she didn't understand why.

'Why is this bothering me so much?' she wondered as she shampooed her hair. 'It's really none of my business.' she thought in a scolding manner. 'Just let it go Hermione.'

But as she finished her shower she couldn't let it go. It lingered in the front of her brain as she put on a long cream colored silk nightgown and pulled her hair into a bun for bed. She heard Ron telling Hugo a story, (this time it was the tale of the three brothers, and of course Ron always had to add in that Harry was descended from the youngest of the three. Hugo watched in absolute awe one time when Harry let Ron show him the invisibility cloak.) She heard him finish the story and kiss Hugo goodnight before she entered the room.

"Another story mum?" Hugo asked hopefully.

"No. Your father just read you one. You know the rule, one story and then bed."

Hugo scowled. He looked so much like Ron when he made that face.

"Goodnight love." she said as she bent over to kiss him on the forehead.

"Goodnight mum." he said stifling a yawn. She turned out the lights and closed the door behind her.

Ron was waiting for her in the hallway.

"Are you going to bed already?" he asked, stroking his fingertip across her bare shoulder.

"Yes. I have a long day tomorrow. I shudder to think what my in box looks like."

Ron's shoulders slumped and he pouted just as Hugo had. Hermione rolled her eyes and headed for their master bedroom. It was easily Hermione's favorite room in the home. She had been particularly definite about how she wanted the room to be. Quiet, peaceful and blank. No pictures or ornaments to distract her. Muted colors of blues, tans and heavy shades on the windows helped achieve what she needed to get a good night sleep. She lifted the down comforter and slid between the cool sheets before shutting the small table lamp off and closing her eyes. Normally she would be asleep in minutes. But after an hour of tossing and turning she resolved to stare blankly at the ceiling. The dim light of the alarm clock was the only thing allowing her to see after her eyes adjusted. And she couldn't help but stare at the clock every few minutes. By the time Ron showered and came to bed it was nearly midnight and she was still awake.

"Hermione?" Ron whispered.

She ignored him and pretended to be asleep.

"Honey, are you awake?" he asked again, shaking her gently.

She continued to breathe deeply and evenly, feigning sleep.

Ron finally gave up and got under the covers. Minutes later he was snoring.

Frustrated, Hermione got back out of bed and headed for the dusty book waiting for her in the living room. She turned on a reading lamp and thumbed through the book quickly as she sat down. She had no idea how she was going to solve the problem with the Quidditch gloves, but she wasn't going to give up. After all this was the most interesting thing she had done in her job in quite a few years. Even since a French wizard thought he could take over for Voldemort almost six years ago. He was easily stopped. She opened the book to the beginning and read until her blurry eyes closed on their own.

"Mommy!" Hugo yelled waking Hermione up from a cramped nights sleep on the chair. She opened her eyes warily and looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly nine and she wasn't near ready. She stood up quickly and dropped the heavy book on her bare foot.

"Ouch!" she screamed before heading into the bedroom where Ron was still sleeping.

"Ron! Ronald wake up!" she shouted.

He tossed but didn't open his eyes.

"I'm late Ron. You will have to take Hugo to Ginny's. Get up already!" she yelled. Ron opened his eyes just in time to see a pillow hurling towards his face.

"Alright already! Geez!" he said getting to his feet. Hermione threw on a pair of chocolate brown pants and a light tan cashmere sweater. She took the bun out of her hair and brushed the still damp curls as quickly as she could. Ron's slow progress to get Hugo ready to leave was driving her crazy.

"I have to go to work Ronald. I have lots to do today." she said emphasizing her point.

"So go." Ron shouted. "I'll get him ready. I'll be the one that's late."

"Thanks!" she said planting a kiss on his cheek and heading for the fireplace. She used the floo to get to the ministry as quickly as possible. She started to calm down a bit when she got to her office. But that calm disappeared when she saw the pile of paperwork on her desk.

"Merlin." she said as she sat at the desk and began the all too familiar routine of signing, stamping and shuffling the papers from 'in' to 'out'.

The morning passed quickly and when she looked at the clock it was lunchtime already. She headed out the office door and met Harry in the hallway on the way to the cafeteria.

"Hi Harry." she said cheerfully.

"Hey 'Mione." he replied. "I haven't seen you for a few days. Ron told me about your assignment. I can talk to Kingsley if you want, get you taken off the job."

"Oh, no. That's alright Harry. It's not so bad. Mr. Malfoy is being very civil and we mostly just read old books and try to think of new spells."

"What's this for?" Harry asked curiously.

"I can't say. You will know if it works though. It will be something everyone will want to use on new products."

Harry looked at her oddly.

"Oh, hey Harry, I forgot to mention…I saw James and Albus up at Hogwarts yesterday."

"You were at Hogwarts?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah, we went to use the library. I ate lunch with Rose and saw Molly and Fred as well. They are coming for Christmas."

"Oh good." Harry said as they reached the cafeteria.

"Did you know that Draco's son Scorpius is in Gryffindor?" Hermione asked.

"Get out of here." Harry said his mouth agape.

"No, it's true. He seems like a very nice boy. Much nicer than his father was at that age."

"I've heard a lot of rumors about Malfoy and his family." Harry whispered.

"Yeah, Ron's filled me in. I swear you two are the worst gossips." she grinned.

"Just be careful Hermione."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she asked, but Harry ignored her and sat down at their usual table. Ron joined them minutes later and the waiter just brought their food without asking what they wanted. They ate in silence and Hermione watched in horror as Ron practically inhaled his food. She looked at her watch and announced that she was headed back to her office to catch up on paperwork.

"What time will you be home tonight?" Ron asked after nearly choking on his last bite of tart.

"Just eat without me. I have a late meeting. Ill just stop on the way home and eat." she said.

Ron looked a little sad as she kissed his forehead before saying goodbye to Harry.

"Remember what I said." Harry whispered out of the corner of his mouth. Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to her office. She worked on more paperwork and the afternoon passed just as fast as the morning had. She was done with her paperwork thankfully and started to page thought the old book again. It was written by a man named Boreguard Bladhag. He was best known for creating a cauldron that scrubs itself clean after every use. He tried to keep how he made them a secret but a clever witch figured it out and soon the market was flooded with them. Making his invention virtually worthless. And that was just the first time it happened. He invented a self-stirring cauldron, a self-heating cauldron and a cauldron that doubled as a large cooking pot and would cook dinner for you at the end of the day. But every single one of his inventions ended up just one of many once his spells were figured out. He copyrighted the spells with the ministry but people eventually leaked information and he was back to square one. Hermione was about halfway through the book when she heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

"I hope I didn't bother you." Draco said politely as he stepped inside. He shook a bit of ash off of his coat.

"No, not at all. I was just reading this." she said motioning towards the book, which was called. 'A cauldron for all occasions.'

"At first I didn't understand what this book had to do with your particular situation, but now that I'm into it I understand. Please come sit down." she said. There was a soft tan sofa in front of the small fireplace in her office. It was purely functional and not hooked up to the floo network but it gave a cozy touch to her office.

"I'm a bit chilly mind if a light a fire?" she asked. He shook his head no.

"Incendio." she said pointing her wand. A bright fire lit instantly warming the immediate area.

"How was your day?" he asked as he shed his coat onto the back of the sofa.

"Boring." she replied. "I just got to reading a little over an hour ago. I tried last night but I was so tired I fell asleep. How did you do?"

"I haven't read too much yet. I had a meeting with my promotional manager. I updated him on the status of the gloves. He wasn't happy."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. He is high strung."

Hermione smiled.

"So what should we work on tonight?" she asked picking up the book again.

He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"Headache?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm wondering if I'm setting myself up for failure with this project." he said closing his eyes. "I just wanted to get this right."

He had that helpless look again that Hermione felt her insides twist and turn.

"We will." she said reaching over and patting his leg softly. He looked up at her; the firelight dancing across his face.

"Sorry." she mumbled, pulling her hand away and realizing that it was probably inappropriate.

"Don't worry about it." he said. A smile twitching at the corner of his mouth. He was staring at Hermione as she watched the fire.

"Do you mind if we just sit here for a moment?" he asked. Hermione looked at him oddly. She was being paid to work on this project not to keep him company.

"Just until this headache goes away." he pleaded.

Hermione nodded her head and sat back on the sofa quietly. Draco laid his head on the back of the sofa and closed his eyes again. Several moments passed before Hermione realized that Draco had fallen fast asleep. His calm, relaxed face was colored with the dancing flames. Hermione studied it for a moment. She saw the very faint scars on his face, the only think marring the smooth pale skin and wondered why he had never had them removed. She made a mental mote to ask him but he probably wouldn't tell her anyway. That night long ago was such an iffy subject. Draco shifted in his sleep but didn't wake up. Hermione looked at her watch and wondered how long she should let this go on. Her stomach was growling loudly. Thinking quickly she remembered that she had an apple in her desk so she got up and opened her drawer. The apple was there, waiting for her. She smiled and took a big bite. Her growling stomach thanked her. She walked around her office eating her apple and watching Draco sleep. It was an odd feeling having him here slumbering on her sofa. It was then that she remembered the hand knitted afghan in the storage cupboard. She walked to the far corner of her office and pulled it out. Molly had made if for her when she was pregnant with Rose. Tossing the apple core into the trash can she headed for the sofa. Hermione unfolded it and started to spread it across Draco's sleeping body. She kneeled on the sofa next to him and pulled it up towards his chin. A strand of Draco's hair fell across his face as she did so. Instinctively she swept it back up into place with her index finger. Her face was inches from his and her finger remained entwined in his blond hair. His hot breath tickled her face as she remained frozen above him. Her stomach turned again as she thought of all she now knew about his life.

'How horrible it must be not to know love.' she thought stroking his hair again.

Just then stormy grey eyes opened to meet deep brown ones.