Disclaimer: Draco, Hermione and all other names you recognize, are fictional characters created by J.K. Rowling herself. I do not own them.

Chapter 7

She felt anxious as she tidied up her desk in the lab at the Ministry Friday afternoon. She was headed to the countryside with Draco in a couple of hours, alone. Being alone with him meant something different at this point in their relationship then it had in the beginning. She had been on a roller coaster ride of emotions as she tried to understand why she felt nervous about the weekend. They had managed to forge a friendship after the vow they took five months earlier but she knew she didn't have romantic feelings for Draco. Regardless of how good their acting skills had become, it was just that, an act. She had enough relationship experience to know that any physical need Draco may have did not correlate to feelings for her in anyway. This was a fact that she reminded herself of whenever his gaze traveled down to her lips.

She stepped out of the fireplace in her flat twenty minutes later and padded down the hall to her room to pack for the weekend. She stood in her closet and with each flick of her wrist, clothes were sent sailing to the open suitcase on her bed. She packed several dresses as well as a plethora of comfortable clothing so no matter what Draco had planned she would be prepared. Once her suitcase was full she added a weightless charm with a swish of her wand and then shrunk the bag to a more reasonable size before shoving it into her satchel. She had just set her bag down in the foyer when she heard a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone other than Draco so she glanced cautiously through the peep hole in the door. "Just a moment!" she yelled at the door once she had seen the head of blond hair waiting on the other side. She focused her wand on the door and recited the incanation to remove the wards surrounding her flat. Finally she whispered "Alahamora" and the door clicked open. Draco wasted no time and was through her door and heading for the kitchen within seconds, giving his chipper greeting of hello as he went. She stared curiously after him before flicking her wand to seal the door again. She followed him into the kitchen and found Draco unpacking takeout cartons and placing them onto her table.

"I picked up Chinese from that bistro you like so well. Kung Pao and Ginger chicken, white and brown rice. Since we're driving I thought we might want to get an early start and get dinner out of the way as well."

She just watched as he grabbed plates and flatware, knowing exactly where everything was in her kitchen. It hit her then that he had said "drive" in regards to tonight's means of transportation. "Did you say 'drive', as in operate a motor vehicle?" she questioned sure she had misunderstood.

"Yes. My car is out front. Come and eat so we can get going." He told her, scooping rice onto his plate.

"You have a car? Really?" she inquired shock evident in her tone. She joined him at the table and grabbed the brown rice.

"I don't know why this is such a shock. I actually own several cars, Granger." He laughed.

A half hour later they headed out of her building and descended the stairs to the street. Draco put his hand on the small of her back and led her to a black Audi SUV parked on the street directly in front of her building. He opened the door and waited as she climbed in before carefully closing the door. She noticed a photographer in the distance as she waited for Draco to get settled behind the wheel.

"Maybe we should do a loop around the city in case those reporters across the street have any intention of following us." She suggested and he looked up following her gaze.

He chuckled. "Let them follow us, I'd like to see how that works out for them." She turned her head to take in his relaxed demeanor, clearly he wasn't concerned. "The place we're headed is concealed and they won't be permitted even if they could find it." She smiled brightly at him, thankful that he valued privacy as much as she did.

"Are you going to finally tell me where we are going?" she implored as he made a left turn and headed for the outskirts of the city.

"No. I'm going to show you." He smirked keeping his eyes on the road ahead of him. "It's only about one hundred or so kilometers to Wiltshire, so it shouldn't take us too long."

The trip went by quickly and just before eight in the evening the car began to slow. Hermione looked for a turn off but saw none. She studied Draco as he looked for some landmark she did not see. He flashed her a smile before gently turning right, steering the car between two large trees that appeared to border a lush green field. She could feel the magic as they passed through the concealment charm and she smiled as two narrow gravel lanes for their tires appeared in front of them. Draco was relaxed as he drove and she got the sense that he had traveled here many times. They drove for several kilometers before reaching a tall iron gate that impeded their passage. Draco pulled his wand from the console and murmured an incantation along with a flick of his wrist. Hermione watched as the gates slowly opened and she made note to ask him later about the spell he had used. The distance to the large house that sat nestled in the countryside was much shorter than the drive to the gate and Hermione was anxious to be out of the car.

Draco opened her door for her and helped her out before explaining where they were. "This is the guest house on my parent's property. It sits about eight kilometers from the manor and I think you will find it much to your liking. I come here half a dozen times a year, to get away. The country affords me some quiet and the house has a few perks that shouldn't go unused." He winked and motioned her forward with an out stretched hand. "I had my house elf prepare two rooms for our stay and the kitchen should be stocked as well."

She nodded in understanding but the fact that she was on Malfoy property was still giving her pause. "Did you say your parents were out of town this weekend?" She asked as they approached the front door.

"Yes." He confirmed and could see some of her tension melt away. He held his wand to the Malfoy crest on the door and after a few moments she heard an audible click. Draco pushed the door open and the pair stepped into the house. He showed her around the home and she was pleased to find that it didn't in any way remind her of the large manor on the other side of the property. The last stop on his tour was the upstairs suite she would be staying in.

"I want to show you one of my favorite things about this place but first you need the proper attire. There should be a swimsuit and towel in the closet, get changed and I will meet you in the foyer. Oh, and my room is the next door down, same side, if you need anything." Before she could respond her door clicked shut and she was alone.

The room was unusually large with a canopy bed at one end and sitting area off to the side in front of two oversized windows. The décor in the room was quite modern with white bed linens and dark furniture accented by a pale green color that was used throughout the room. There were two doors at the other end of the room, one led to a wash room the size of Hermione's sitting area in her flat, and behind the other was the closet Draco had mentioned.

She pulled her suitcase from her satchel and returned it to its original size before heading to the closet to put it away. Inside she found a dark green swim suit with white towel atop a set of built in drawers. She picked up the suit to examine it and sighed, of course it would be a bikini. She didn't want to admit it but a swim did sound lovely plus there was no reason not to enjoy the perks, as he put it, that the house had to offer. Once clad in the two-piece she pulled a short cotton dress on in an effort to cover some of her exposed skin, grabbed the towel and made her way to the foyer. He eyed her curiously as she made her way down the staircase but smiled once he spotted the strap of her bathing suit top tied at the back of her neck. They meandered through the house and stepped out into the back gardens just as the sun was starting to slip into the horizon. She didn't see water anywhere and would have questioned him if he wasn't in swim trucks and carrying a towel of his own. He led her down a path and around a tall hedge line before the clear blue water came into view. Below them in a valley in the yard sat a huge pool, lit only by the dying sun and a few torches that lined the perimeter of the area. They made their way down the stone steps and onto the pool deck.

"The hot tub is my favorite part but the pool is heated as well." He told her as he led them to a table near the pool. As they approached she noticed a tray full of desserts and coffee and next to them, gin, tonic and fire whisky all on ice. She couldn't help her smile as she reached for a treacle tart and took a bite.

"Gin and tonic?" he asked popping a treacle tart into his mouth.

"Please." She took a few moments to assess her surroundings as he poured her drink. She thought about how easy It would be to live like this before realizing that this was in fact, her life, at least for now. She thanked him for the drink and sat on the edge of the pool to sip at it. Draco came up beside her and set his drink down before he dove in sending a splash her way.

"Thanks for that!" she laughed as she wiped the drops of water from her arm. It was only then that she realized he was shirtless and this was definitely the first time she had seen him this way. Her laughter quickly died out as he approached and she tried to hide the blush in her cheeks by taking a large pull from her drink. He grabbed his glass downing the red colored whisky in one gulp before he noticed her blush and smirked.

"I hope you plan on getting in soon or I will be forced to throw you in against your will."

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "You wouldn't!"

He raised an eyebrow in challenge. "Consider yourself warned." He threatened lightly but she had a feeling he would likely follow through on that promise given the chance. She poured the rest of her drink down her throat and stood, grabbing both of their glasses, and headed back to the table for another round of drinks. When she returned, she was in considerably less clothing and was using her wand to levitate the tray of alcohol behind her.

"I like how you think, Granger." He complemented as she set his full glass in front of him. She crouched down and with a small jump was standing next to him in the pool.

"Happy now?" she teased.

"No." He drawled. "I was looking forward to throwing you in later, but now you've ruined my fun." He shot back with a grin.

The sun had long disappeared from view and the pair retreated to the hot tub that sat at the far end of the pool. They sat near one another in the circular space, both looking out at the countryside as they fell in and out of conversation. The quiet moments were tension free and Hermione struggled to remember the last time she had felt this relaxed.

"I can't get over how tranquil this place is." She murmured.

"I know. I've thought so many times about moving out here, but it's just not practical, plus, I would miss the city." He admitted.

"I suppose living so close to your parents has its drawbacks as well?" she teased.

He laughed a little and nodded in agreement letting a short silence pass. "I'm shocked that you haven't brought up marriage rituals at all tonight." He told her in a teasing tone.

"Well… I thought I would give you a break. But don't worry, I plan to drill you tomorrow." She bantered back. "What are we doing tomorrow, you never mentioned anything?"

"I thought I would show you the property in the morning and then we can relax at the pool after lunch."

"We aren't visiting your boyhood home are we?" The question was out before she realized it.

"Only if you want to." He chuckled. "I thought we'd take a walk, stay close to the guest house."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to ask that out loud." She confessed sheepishly. "I don't like surprises, I like to be prepared."

"You know, it seems like just a short few months ago you were insisting that I trust you, Granger. Do I need to request the same of you?" Although his tone was lighthearted she could sense that she had upset him.

"No. I made a decision when this all began to trust you. That hasn't changed." She told him confidently.

"Really? So, how far does this trust, you so blindly gave, extend?" He questioned.

"I wouldn't call it blind. I knew enough about you to feel confident in my decision."

"Did you really? Did you do your homework, look into my past? How did you come to this conclusion? Are you sure you're safe here with me, alone? We are in the middle of the country, on my family's property…" He trailed off as she stared at him wide eyed.

"Don't be such an arse, Malfoy! I would never have agreed to this whole insane idea if I didn't." She bit out.

He smirked at her in response. Watching her get riled up was worth the effort to get her to the edge. He knew he was a little sick for enjoying it but he found satisfaction in her proclamation of trust. He might be playing games to find out where her head was at but he figured the benefit far out weighted not knowing. He needed her to trust him.

She rolled her eyes in irritation. He was testing her again. She glanced over at him out of the corner of her eye and he was still watching her, a grin pulling at his lips. She wondered how he could give her such a hard time one minute and then turn around the next and play the part of doting boyfriend perfectly. He was insufferable and she cursed herself for finding any part of him attractive.

"What motivates you, Granger?" He asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

"What do you mean? Motivates me to do what?" She countered agitation still in her tone.

"What motivates you to get up every day? What motivates you to agree to take a vow with a person you spent your school days hating?"

She observed him with a frown on her face as she tried to make sense of the information he was after. She picked up her drink and took a long pull, stalling. "We've already discussed my motivation… and I never hated you."

"I don't believe it. How could you not hate me?" He queried.

"I'm not going to try and convince you, Draco." Her voice was soft. "I didn't like you most days but I never actually hated you." She told him observing his stoic exterior.

"I thought I hated you. It wasn't until our seventh year, when you were gone, that I realized my feelings came from a bruised ego since you bested me at everything except potions and flying." He chuckled. "It's awful being beat by a girl when you think you have so much to prove…"

She gave him a small smile in return. His confession gave her new insight into the wizard beside her. He was opening up and it made her feel good that he trusted her too.

She watched him down the remaining liquid from his glass, he grabbed his wand and with a well aimed spell their towels were floating toward them. "We should turn in, tomorrow will be a late night, I'm sure" he grinned.

"True." She replied thoughtfully. He watched the water run off her small frame as she stood and reached for her towel. He knew he was staring but he didn't care, she looked amazing. He realized then that although she was thin, there were curves to her body in just the right spots and he unabashedly took a moment to appreciate them.

She could feel his eyes on her as she climbed out of the water and wrapped the towel around her body. "What?" She asked uneasy, when she caught him staring.

A smirk graced his features before he replied. "You look good in green, Granger."

She woke to the sun peering in through a small crack in the heavy drapes, it created just enough light for her to see her surroundings. She sat up suddenly her heart racing before she remembered where she was. She laid back down for a few minutes to see if sleep would consume her again but it was no use. She pulled herself from the comfortable confines of her bed and padded across the room to the lavatory. After brushing her teeth and pulling on a knee length white robe she found in her room, she headed toward the kitchen.

Malfoy had bacon and eggs cooking on the stove, a fork magically flipping the meat in the pan as he poured coffee into a large mug. He looked up as she approached him and smiled.

"Coffee?" he asked.

"Please. Breakfast smells great, by the way."

"Glad you think so, that omelet has your name on it." He flicked his wrist and she watched as the pan turned and the eggs slid onto a plate. The plate suddenly sailed across the room, headed for the table, and she could see sliced avocado and buttered toast already out as part of the breakfast spread. "Eat, I'll get you a cup of coffee" he told her as he pulled another mug from the cabinet.

She eyed the plate of sliced avocado as she made her way across the kitchen, he must have remembered from their conversation at his flat that they were her favorite. She looked up from the table and watched as Draco began cooking another omelet, and tried to ignore the flutter in her belly as she watched the eggs crack themselves into a bowl and were whipped together. He was very comfortable in the kitchen which should have been more surprising but instead she just found that it suited him.

Draco joined her within minutes and they ate most of their breakfast in silence. Once her omelet had been eaten, Hermione pushed her chair back and pulled one leg up, resting her foot on the seat cushion as she leaned back to relax. She lifted her coffee to her lips and let the aroma fill her senses as the cup warmed her hands. Draco took a moment to watch her noticing that her robe had slid down the leg that was bent, exposing her knee. He suddenly found his thoughts wandering to what was hiding beneath her robe as his eyes roamed her still form. He knew he shouldn't let himself indulge in thoughts of this nature but after seeing her the previous night in the green bikini he purchased for her it was hard to think of much else. She sat with her head resting on the back of the chair with her eyes closed almost inviting his quiet perusal, almost.

The pair spent the morning walking the grounds near the guest house before returning to have a quick lunch in the kitchen. Although they had all morning to talk, Hermione kept her questions regarding their courtship to a minimum. She had asked if her parents' absence would impact the process and found that if anything it simplified things. Draco mentioned that normally there would be a meeting of the families as well as gaining her father's permission before they committed to one another. She tried to treat it like the business agreement she knew it was but not having her parents support in such a huge life event was crushing. She tried to use her sadness as motivation to keep the end goal in sight but the stark reality of her circumstance was just too much.

Draco noticed that she was abnormally quiet and subdued after the topic of her parents was breached and he decided to explain just the things that she needed to know so he didn't upset her further. She seemed more fragile than he could ever remember seeing her and he let the topic of their impending engagement slide away as they returned to the house. He could only imagine the pain she must feel at having lost her parents even though they were still living, and by her own wand, no less. He wasn't sure how she had coped so far but he wondered how she would manage with all that was coming. He would have to talk to her about it again but he would wait for their relationship to develop further, for her to trust him not just with her safety but with her feelings.

After lunch Hermione met Draco poolside to relax for the remainder of the afternoon. They would have to go back to London to celebrate Ginny's birthday but she refused to worry herself with the details. He was waiting for her, reclining on a lounge chair as she approached. There was a towel on the lounger next to him and she sat down with her back to him before she peeled off her cotton dress. He watched her as she pulled the garment from her body and groaned internally. She was going to test his restraint today and he knew he would be lucky to survive without making some kind of grave error in judgment. She stretched her legs out in front of her and he had to lean his head back and close his eyes to pull himself together. He knew she would not welcome his advances and he wasn't sure adding that type of complication to their arrangement was a wise decision anyway.

She pulled him from his thoughts, "Can you pass me the sunscreen?"

He didn't answer but opened his eyes just long enough to locate the lotion on the table beside him, grab it and hold it out for her. "Thanks." She replied as she pulled it from his grasp. She noticed he was back to being distant and stoic again this afternoon. She could feel a tense air between them but ignored it as she applied lotion to her exposed skin.

He cracked an eye open to see her spreading lotion down the length of her leg. She was slowly killing him and she had no idea. How was he going to spend the day with her when she was dressed like that and teasing him. His eyes closed again and he scolded himself for having such dangerous thoughts. He quickly resolved to ignore the brunette witch and began to think about the pending issues at work instead. That seemed to be working until he opened his eyes again. He tried not to look at her but his body seemed to be acting on its own accord as he watched her lean back and begin applying lotion across her stomach.

Suddenly he was on his feet and headed for the pool. He walked to the edge and without pause dove head first into the water. The pool was cool and refreshing and he stayed under for as long as his lungs would allow. When he surfaced he shook the water from his hair realizing he should have jumped in sooner.

She found herself deep in thought when Malfoy finally made it back to his lounger. Talk of her parents had stirred up her feelings about the war and she found herself pondering its impact on the many that had made it through. She could hear him settle into the chair beside her but did not open her eyes to acknowledge him before she spoke.

"Do you think you'll ever really recover from the war?" She asked the tall wizard.

When he didn't respond right away she turned her head in his direction and cracked open an eye to look at him. He was looking at her curiously, "Where did that come from?" She shrugged her shoulders in response but didn't offer anything further. "No." He told her softly. "I don't think war is something anyone gets over."

She was quiet for a moment before she asked another question. "Do you have nightmares? About the war, I mean?"

He looked at her but she had her eyes closed even though she still faced him. She was beautiful and his thoughts once more betrayed him as he stared at her lips. She was waiting for an answer so he sighed, "Yes… more often then I will ever admit."

Her eyes opened at his admission and he held her gaze. "Me too." She quietly revealed. "It's exhausting having to relive the emotions that I spend my waking hours trying to forget."

He looked away from her; uncomfortable with the way she had so accurately described the realities of the war that plagued him. He thought for a moment back to the girls his parents had set him up with, some too young to even comprehend what he had been a part of. He had not realized until this moment how nice it was to have someone that actually understood and someone that seemed just as damaged as he was.

"Thanks, Draco. I appreciate knowing that I'm not the only one still dealing with this." She offered as she sat up. "It's lonely sometimes." She confessed as she stood and walked to the pool.

He watched as she jumped in and spent a few minutes cooling off. This was the second time during their conversation that she had articulated his feelings while describing her own and it left him feeling exposed. He hadn't acknowledged that he felt the same but he was sure she somehow knew.

She adjusted the back of the lounge chair so that it was lying flat before she laid down letting the sun warm her back. He couldn't help but watch her and wonder why he had so foolishly purchased a two piece suit for her. He had not anticipated his reaction to her, he admitted to himself, as he raked his eyes up and down her form. He noticed that the water drops on her back had dried and her skin looked warm; he wanted to touch her, feel her sun kissed skin beneath his fingers. His desire seemed to take control of his actions and without another thought he grabbed hold of the sunscreen bottle and was standing over her. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she screamed when she felt something cold on her back. "It's just lotion." He laughed as she glared up at him. "What?" He offered innocently. "Your back was looking a little pink. I'm only trying to help."

"You did that on purpose, you git!" The effect of her insult was lost when she laughed. He sat on the edge of her lounger and she tensed as his hip and thigh rested against her side.

"Yes, I did do it on purpose, to prevent you from burning." He informed her. "Your reaction was just a bonus." She turned her head to glare at him and he smirked in return. Once she put her head back down on the lounger, his hands slowly and cautiously began to rub the lotion into the skin on her back. He couldn't help himself. The intense desire to touch her had put an end to rational thought and he held back a grown as he moved his hands across her warm skin.

She held her breath at his touch wishing the sweet torture would end quickly. His actions felt intimate and it unnerved her. She once again found his behavior curious but knew she couldn't ask him about it. It would be far too uncomfortable plus he was skilled at diverting any questions he refused to answer.

"The back of your legs need some too but I think you can manage that on your own." He told her as he set the lotion bottle down next to her lounger and walked away. He had crossed his own line, touching her as dangerous thoughts swirled around in his head. He was in the pool again before he made the conscience decision to jump in. He needed to put space between them and he needed to come up with a way to find her less attractive. Her confessions about the effects of the war had not helped to create any space either but instead seemed to draw him to her.

A few minutes later she watched as he settled onto one of the loungers in the shade and didn't avert her eyes when he glanced over at her. They stared at each other for a moment before she sat up to apply sunscreen to her legs. She tried to pull her thoughts into some kind of order but the more she tried to make sense of his actions the more confused she felt. He was nothing like the person she had met back in school and she contemplated for a moment if he had always been this way or if the war had changed him. She was pretty certain she knew the answer but wasn't quite ready to accept that Malfoy had always been a decent bloke.

Before long the pair found themselves headed into the house to get ready for the evening. "I'll meet you downstairs for dinner in an hour." He told her as they approached her room. She took the full hour to shower, dress, apply makeup and straighten her hair. She had picked out a lovely silver dress that hung well above her knee and showed off the little bit of color she had received from her time by the pool. She slipped on silver peep toe heels and took one last look in the mirror. The dress was simple with thin shoulder straps and a pleated skirt covering the last 8 inches of the dress. She grabbed her clutch and a small gift box on her way out of her room and headed for the kitchen.

His back was turned as she entered but he could tell she was making her way over to him by the click of her heels on the tiled floor. He turned and watched her close the distance between them, the bottom of her dress fluttering around her as she moved. Her dress was exquisite and he stared with a slack jaw, forgetting himself for a moment before offering her the wine he had poured with an out stretched hand.

"Thank you." She smiled as she took the glass from him.

"You look beautiful, Hermione." He complimented in a soft tone, giving away his sincerity.

"You look dashing, yourself." She smiled. "Black suits you, and… I have something for you." She handed him the slender gift box. He looked at her curiously before sliding the band off and opening the box. "I thought silver would be a nice addition to your collection." She offered as he held up the tie.

"Here, let me." She insisted holding out her hand. He gave her the tie and began to loosen the black one that currently hung around his neck. She set her wine down and waited as he removed the material and set it on the counter. She took a step closer, leaving little space between them as she carefully placed the silver tie along the collar of his shirt, her fingers gentle yet skilled at the task.

He watched her face as she concentrated to get the knot just right and noticed a slight pink hint had appeared on her cheeks. He made her nervous and it gave him a thrill. She stepped back to inspect her work but quickly moved forward again to make an adjustment. He gave his best effort to keep his hands at his sides but failed when she tried to step back a second time. His right hand came up and made contact with the small of her back, preventing her from retreating further. "Thank you for the tie."

"Oh."She squeaked at his touch and looked down briefly to where he held her. "You're welcome. I like it when we match," she grinned."… and I thought you could use something to spice up your black suit."

"How did you know I would be wearing all black?" He inquired intrigued as he loosened his hold and let his hand slide around to her hip.

"You have your secrets and I have mine." She replied coyly, grabbing her wine as she turned out of his grasp and headed for the table.