I hope you enjoy this one.

As always I don't own the characters, I merely like to play with the ending of the stories that I read.

Chapter 9: Rawr..I am Reptar?

Draco,

Today I have absolutely nothing planned and was wondering if you would like to accompany me to some breakfast? It is too early to be awake but I am starving!
Try to let me know before I make it to your flat in 20 minutes!

-Hermione

P.S Time starts now!

He could almost hear the giggles that followed her letter. He decided to call her and let her know he was getting ready and would be waiting outside his door when she showed up.

After spending so much time together they had learned several of each other's quarks. Hermione while she enjoyed sleep had woken up extremely early for a Saturday..he couldn't help but laugh a little bit because he knew exactly why.

Right as he was walking out of his flat at almost exactly 20 minutes later on the dot Hermione sauntered up to Draco in the hallway.

"Thank you God! You are ready to go, as I said before I am famished!" Hermione spoke dramatically as she turned her back to him and pretended to faint into his arms.

"Well someone with bushy hair and brown eyes didn't really give me much of a choice did she?" he looked down and laughed as he pushed her back upright "Shall we go then Miss. I am going to wake up and see who I can irritate first? By the way, why are you waking me up at 7am on a Saturday to go eat breakfast? Don't you LIKE to sleep?" he was faking his irritation and grinning because he knew the reason she was waking him so early.

Hermione had figured out his eyes were his biggest tell. When he looked annoyed but was trying not to laugh he looked like he was squinting and his lips slightly turned up into a smile. She wouldn't tell him though, she liked knowing his tells and if she told he would certainly try to fix it!

"It so happens if you must know Mr. I can't help but say okay to anyone who bats their lashes at me. I do like my sleep; however, I was woken up because SOMEONE set my alarm for 5 this morning and never turned it off. Oh and that SOMEONE charmed it to not go off no matter how many times I hit the snooze button!" she pointed her finger at him and thumped his nose but only enough to make him feel it. She laughed and continued walking in the direction down the hall.

"Oh yeah? And who was this someone?" he feigned ignorance, they had started a pranking war between the two of them and he had to do something after what she pulled last week.

*FLASHBACK 1 WEEK BEFORE*

Draco walks into work expecting a normal day. They had just finished closing a huge deal and he was really excited about it. He was also ready for a day to relax since he had already finished everything the evening before. It was Friday after all, why not spend it doing nothing but surfing the internet and talking to Hermione.

"Good Morning Mr. Malfoy" Lucy as always greeted him with a warm smile although this morning she had a certain air around her. Like she knew something he didn't.

With a cautious look her direction then at his office then back at her he said "Good Morning Lucy. Is everything alright?"

"Just splendid" she answered. She was even more giddy than usual which made Draco slightly worried about the next ten steps in front of him.

"I will be in my office should you need me. Would you mind calling Hermione to confirm today's lunch plans?

"I would be delighted to" she giggled

He walked into his office to find that he walked into a flower shop. His entire office was covered in flowers. Daisy', Roses, Dandelions, and petals showered the floor completely. In the middle of his office there stood a desk that looked like it had been covered in tiny eyes. She glued tiny googly eyes all over his desk! And on top of that his computer had a taupe of brown bushy hair and sitting at his desk was a skeleton wearing a complete suit with a letter attached to his hand.

He laughed a little at how she made it look like he was looking at a sexy skeleton lady in a bathing suit on the computer screen. This side of Granger he could get used to. Although he doesn't quite understand why she did this or better yet how she got into his office. It was a good thing he didn't have any meetings this afternoon. Otherwise this would take hours to clear out without magic. And the stares would be too much for him to handle.

He took the letter out of the hand of the skeleton sitting at his desk and read it.

Draco,

Dear God man, do you ever not work!? Okay so I am initiating a prank war! Officially it is your turn, you have been far too stressed as of lately and I need you to stop being a ferret and play! Rules are there are no rules! So TAG YOU'RE IT!

By the way see you today for lunch! Oh yes and thank Lucy for letting me in this morning while you were taking your time getting to work!

GAME ON FERRET!

P.S.

Also I hope you know that your dear Lucy is a witch and caught on to you and I both. So she knows that I did this with magic. Don't worry, no rules were broken I made it known that I would be doing this to Harry and he not only was for it he helped! Along with Lucy, I have chosen my team, so choose yours wisely!

Hermione~

**End Flashback**

"Oh please you know exactly who did that sir! I could strangle you if I wasn't in such a good mood right now." She slapped him on the arm and continued walking towards the end of the hallway to get to their destination.

They made it to their favorite restaurant and looked at the menu in silence. Hermione always looked at the menu like she was going to get something new but they both knew she couldn't stray from her eggs benedict, bacon and juice.

"Why do you even bother to look at that thing Hermione? You always get the same thing anyways."

He quipped over his own menu.

"You're one to talk, Mister I am going to get the same thing every time with the slight change of either coffee or juice and sausage or bacon." She laughed to herself and then sat her menu to the side.

"At least my order changes every now and then."

This friendly banter had become extremely easy for them. who knew that two completely opposite people could become so very close in such a short amount of time. If only they would have been able to be this way in school.

Draco often thought about the past and how much he wished he knew then what he knows now about muggles. If only someone had been honest about them and muggle-born witches and wizards. He could have maybe had a friendship with Potter and Hermione earlier on in life. Maybe Potter would have taken his friendship on the first day at Hogwarts and he would have been on a different side of the war. If he had been brought up differently he wouldn't have the ugly mark on his left forearm right now. He could never escape the ghosts that haunted his days and nights.

Hermione saw the change in his eyes and saw he was thinking of the past again; this was something he did when he thought he didn't deserve the friendship they were currently trying to build. Hermione knew he looked at his body in shame just as she did. Many people didn't know about her insecurities and she liked it that way. She would often look at herself in the mirror and trace the scars of her past and that included her heart. It had been what seemed like months since her and Ron were officially over and it still hurt every now and then but mostly when she remembered wishing she could be as transparent with him as she has been with Draco. She would be lying if she said she didn't think of him still. They don't talk unless they are in the same room and forced alone for a moment but that is rare. Draco has hung out with her most since that first meeting in the park. They had long forgotten about playing 20 Questions and moved into just having friendly chatter and good times. Her favorite thing he does is when she starts getting down he brings her right back up even if he is just as low as she is. The twinkle he has in his eyes when he brings a smile to people's faces is nothing short of a miracle. A few years ago she would have laughed if someone said he would be where he is now.

His fingers lightly brushing her arm brought her back from her thoughts.

"Hey, are you ready?"

"Mm? Oh yes, my usual if you please?"

The waitress was an older lady. Plump and had an uncanny resemblance to Molly Weasley, although her eyes seemed a little kinder. She has been the one to take their order every time they had been here and it made her laugh each time Hermione just said her usual.

"What about you handsome? Sausage or bacon today? Coffee or Juice?" she questioned

Hermione let out a snort and Draco turned to her and stuck out his tongue. She would have to tell him the meaning her family came up for that at a later date.

"Bacon and Coffee if you please Mrs. Lois."

"Always so polite this one, you have a good one Miss. Keep him around." she winked and walked away before Hermione had time to retort letting her know they were nothing more than friends. The blush that crept up her neck could have given a tomato a run for its money.

"So Hermione, would you like to tell me what is going through that brilliant brain of yours? Or are you wanting to talk about work?"

"Actually, I don't want to talk about work. It seems that is a topic for when you don't know what else to talk about and I believe we have come farther than that. Don't you?"

"Indeed we have my dear. So tell me, have you spoken to Ron lately? I know you have been thinking about him recently." He fidgeted with the silver wear in the dark red cloth on the table. He hated bringing up such a sore subject but Hermione has such a habit of not talking about things that it causes her to shut down and think of nothing else but negative.

"Actually I haven't spoken to him in two weeks? And even then it was in passing so it wasn't very formal. We were able to be civil but Lavender bounced up and it kind of ruined any chance we had at having a conversation. She really is a nasty little trap. You just don't see her coming and then the next thing you know she is cutting the circulation to your leg and won't let go and the more you struggle the tighter she gets. Much like Devils Snare. The only problem is she comes out in the sunlight."

She looked up with her face scrunched up. But her nose was becoming red and her honey brown eyes darkened. Tiny droplets fell from them and Draco knew this was going to be hard for her for a long time. He couldn't help but want to use his own brothers pranks against him for being so cruel to someone so genuine and trusting. She didn't deserve it.

"Mione' I just wa-" he was cut off by Lois who was bringing them their food.

"Here we are. Anything else for you dears?"

Hermione gave Draco a pleading look saying please don't make me talk right now.

"No thank you Lois, I think we have everything we need."

Lois looked at Hermione and then to Draco who mouthed that she was just missing someone close to her.

They were both thankful when she didn't press the subject.

They ate for a few moments in silence before Draco spoke.

"Hermione, I was going to say you know you can talk to me about this. I'm here to listen, I'm not the brightest bloke but I understand needing to let it out sometimes. You know what is said between us stays between us right?"

"Oh Draco, I hate when you and I are together and I get out of sorts. I prefer the pranks and good natured jokes between us instead of the heavy hurts that we carry. But I appreciate you being so understanding."

She gave him a smile that spoke volumes of how she felt at the current moment. While she wasn't thrilled that she just let out a great deal of emotion in front of Draco she was happy he didn't laugh or call her names for it. Which judging by his past he would almost expect her to expect that of him. But things were different now. Things were better. And He liked it this way.

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After they ate they decided to hang out the remainder of the day so Draco flooed home. He was gone for no more than an hour and he returned with at least fifteen buckets of ice cream, two store bags, and an old black and green blanket.

"What is that?!" Hermione asked with a slight giggle in her voice

"You will have to find out once I hand you the bag. found them and thought they would be perfect for today's festivities."

"And just what are today's festivities?" she asked still slightly laughing

"I already said we were going to be children and last time you sent me home so we are doing it now. Here, take this and go change I will use your loo and change there."

He thrusted a bag with red and gold tissue paper sticking out over the top. And just like that he was off into the loo with a grin stretched on his face that he did in fact look like a small child on Christmas morning. She laughed a little harder to herself at his childish act and walked to her room and closed the door.

Hermione decided against arguing, she knew he was being great because she was upset and he knew she was. He had no delusions of what they were, he wasn't trying to get into her pants. He was trying to make her smile and not wallow in self pitty. And damn it he was doing such a good job.

She opened the bag he handed her and pulled apart the paper to reveal a green and yellow onesie. She put it on and looked in her body length mirror to see that he got her measurements pretty spot on. Not tight enough to be inappropriate but not baggy enough to make her look ridiculous. She stood with her arms crossed in front of the mirror and laughed a little louder. This was becoming a regular thing today. She finally walked out of the room she was in and couldn't help but put her hand over her mouth to try and stifle the giggles that were about to escape her mouth.

In front of her stood a dragon; it had black horns on its back and its body was red. and what made it better is he was shaking his tail with the music he put on. And then the head fell off and she fake coughed and instead of stopping he turned around and continued dancing. Shaking his tail as 'Island In The Sun' was playing loudly through the apartment. He bounced over to her and took her hand and twirled her around as she laughed and completely let go of everything. She was genuinely smiling and having fun for at least 10 minutes before they stopped and fell on the pillows and blankets sprawled on the floor.

"Draco, where did you find these ridiculous pajamas?" she started to stop laughing but the smile and twinkle was still very much present.

"I went to the store to get some ice cream and I saw them out of the corner of my eye passing by a shop on the way home. I thought dragon onesies would be the best cure for a broken heart with some ice cream. I didn't know your favorite so I brought a variety." He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she couldn't help but smile and then she turned her head and stared at the ceiling for a moment before speaking.

"Draco, I have to say you are fantastic at picking out my clothes. I mean I don't know if you know this but dragon onsies are the in fashion right now"

"of course I knew" he laughed "only the best for my friends" he mocked a pompous rich man but it was hard to take him seriously with the plushy paw that covered his heart.

They both laughed "Well shall we model our new clothes? I mean we must be ready for the runway show this afternoon."

He fell backwards laughing as she stood up and pretended to be on runway as she strutted in her living area. With hands on her hips she got a little sassy as she turned and wriggled her tail. Hers matched Draco's the only difference was the color! And he picked the perfect colors for her. Her favorite was the hood it had; with teeth that lined the opening of the hood and had plush paws for the hands. There were slippers also, to make her look like she had huge dragon like feet.

He laughed at her sudden behavior and ventured it was because she was still not ready to face the broken heart in her body and to keep her mind from thinking too much.

"Well, I am a Malfoy" he drawled, as he pointed his nose up and Only it fit him so well, and as he said he was a Malfoy after all.

"It is really hard to take you seriously with those pajamas on Draco!" she was still walking around the living room dancing like a silly school girl. She could almost pass for Luna Lovegood with her eccentric wat a.

"Well, I did intend to make it to where it would be very hard to take us seriously. I felt it was needed to be everything except serious today! We have an entire day of doing whatever we want and I feel like movies, ice cream, pillow forts, and pajamas are in order!" he said this with a lot of enthusiasm. And to Hermione's surprise it did not bother her.

Her little dance came to a stop as she got to the couch and saw the black and green blanket laid over the edge with some care. Folded neatly, but not so hard it creased the fabric. She grazed her hand over the black cloth and it was like touching heaven. It was so soft, and it looked like it meant a lot to him.

"Draco, what is this?" she asked with caution not wanting to change the mood. She was having so much fun.

"Oh, that is my old blanket I used to sneak into Hogwarts." He smiled okay,that meant it was okay to talk about it.

"Why did you sneak it into Hogwarts? We all had something we took just so we could have a piece of home." He smirked a little at the response

"Well, in the Malfoy home it was considered childish to take a blanket to school." he said this in a sort of mock Lucius sarcastic way and laughed

"But I did it anyway; it was charmed to get larger as I grew so I could use it forever. My mother made it for me when I was born and I have had it ever since. It means a lot to me, since it was made and not bought like all of my other belongings." He had a nostalgic kind of smile on his face

Hermione smiled at him for showing his vulnerability "It is very soft, I like it."

He was brought back from his thoughts with a slight start. He had almost forgotten that Hermione was even near him. "Thank you and I will maybe be nice and share it with you if you are really nice to me"

She smiled at him of course he would have to involve sharing. He really was NOT the same boy she knew back in school and she couldn't be more thrilled to have anyone else helping her smile through today. As much as she loved Harry, she was not able to be as raw with him as she could with Draco. She could always call Pansy and Theo but Pansy would try and comfort her with going out to some party that wasn't really Hermione's scene at the moment and Theo would try and distract her with books and museums. While she appreciated the idea; she needed someone who understood wanting to just be in the moment and to just smile with her and make her laugh; someone who would understand not wanting to be out in the world. And at the moment that was Draco. He had brought over every childish thing he could think of except for crayons and coloring pages.

"Okay fine! But first…"

"ICE CREAM?!" he finished her sentence and jumped up and down and clapped his mittens together. "I will race you to the kitchen! Last one there is a rotten egg!"

He was the epitome of a small child and she couldn't help but appreciate it. She was always so serious; this was a nice change of pace. Although she wasn't entirely sure of how comfortable she was with him being so much like a child. But she decided to go ahead and continue participating in his antics.

With a fearful look in her eyes she looked up to the corner of the room she spoke

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS THAT?!"

As he looked over his shoulder up into the right corner of the room and immediately heard her snickers behind him.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT BEAVER!"

He reached the island in the kitchen at the same time she was getting the ice cream out of the freezer;

She smiled and started laughing so hard she hunched over grabbing her stomach like she was in pain. She could hardly breath she was laughing so hard.

"Are you nearly finished?" he chided. "That was not fair! You cheated miss!" he started laughing at how pompous he sounded.

"I just was asking what was in the corner of the room. You chose to look" she winked at him.

He play grimaced at her "That is not my definition of really nice"

They stood seriously for a moment before they both laughed out loud and started scooping the ice cream out of the pints that encaged them.

It was Hermione that spoke first after a few moments "By the way" she pointed at him with her spoon.

He looked up

"You are the ONLY person who will ever get away with calling me Beaver!"

She tried to sound menacing but it came out like a mum who was trying to not laugh while she reprimanded her child for doing something silly.

He pointed his spoon at her and spoke with as much malice as she had or lacked really. "And you my dear, to be fair to you; you will be the only person allowed to call me Ferret."

"Well now that, that is settled. Shall we make our way back to the living area so we can continue our afternoon?"

He nodded and they both picked up their bowls. Magic came in handy for the best reasons. Currently the best one being that you could put a cooling charm on the sweet dish and it wouldn't melt in your hands. And cleaning up afterwards was so much easier. Her parents would never allow her to eat these kinds of things if they were still around. And they would even be more horrified by Draco's choice of toppings. Extra chocolate syrup and gummy bears and fudge! Her teeth hurt just looking at it.

They walked into the living room, just in time for the floo ring that someone was coming through.

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Let me know what you think! I plan on trying to get at least 2 chapters out in a month's time, maybe more; but no promises. I appreciate everyone who is reading this. Also thank you again to everyone who is following this story! I hope you're enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it!