-1Chapter Ten

-Bonding or something like it-

Disclaimer - I own nothing.

A/N Well here is chapter ten. I'm kinda posting these quickly to make up for the delay on the first chapters. I hope you guys like it. Rnr.

MerinxD

Draco glanced toward his wife who was laughing softy while engaging in a conversation with her brother. She seemed to be having a good time despite the hug adventure that lay before her. An adventure that he had to partake in. He looked down at Hermione's hand that was clasped gently in his right hand…for appearances ofcourse. Although he could not help but like the small act of physical intimacy that was commonly shared between couples. Is that what they were, a couple?

It sounded absurd, yet he knew that it was true.

Looking around expansive garden of Malfoy manor where the reception was being held. Draco looked for familiar faces. There was no one who would know who Hermione was. No people from school. There was but one soul that both teenagers knew. Severus Snape sat at a table about twenty meters away from Draco looking very sullen. He was currently under the attack of Pany Parkinson's mother. It looked as if she was going for husband number seven and it was visible in Snapes features that he was not happy about the attention being lavished upon him.

Draco laughed to himself and caught his wifes attention.

"Look at that." He said to her, motioning toward the professor and the wizarding worlds communal bike.

"He doesn't look too happy does he?" Hermione said giggling a little as she took a sip from her champagne.

"He is a big boy, I'm sure he will be fine." Blaise chimed in.

"Are you sure you believe that Blaise, or are you just enjoying the spectacle?" Hermione asked him.

"Pretty sure it may be a bit of both," Her brother laughed standing up, "I'm going to make the rounds." He said before disappearing into the crowd.

A silence fell over the couple and Draco slowly let go of his wifes hand.

"I know we both don't like this," he began. "But I have been thinking."

Hermione smirked, "Oh dear, I have told you before, do not think! You may hurt yourself." She smiled in good humour.

"No, I'm being serious. I should hate you." His face resembled stone.

"So am I." She smiled, "Sorry Malfoy, continue."

He nodded. "I should hate you, or hate what you used to be. But we aren't allowed to any more. I'm not saying that we are going to be the happiest couple in the world but maybe…" He trailed off.

"We should call a truce?" She asked, her hazel eyes looking up at him.

"Yeah, or maybe. Be friends?" He was being bold, he did not know where any of this was coming from but he found that he meant every word.

"Friends." She paused, "I think I like the sound of that."

"Ofcourse we would have to be mean to each other in front of people at school" He reasoned.

"I think that it's a good idea Malfoy…or should I say, Draco." she smiled taking his hand in hers.

"We just have to do this one step at a time, Hermione." He tried to look at her but found the intensity of her gaze too strong.

"I understand," smiling Hermione stood, "Wanna dance, friend?"

"Sure, friend." He stood and taking her hand once again Draco led his wife to the dance floor.

……..

Later that evening Hermione was standing in her room packing her trunk in preparation for the school year and her honey moon.

Her mother and Mrs. Malfoy had arranged for Draco and herself to holiday in the country to get to know each other better. The Malfoys had owned the cottage before Draco had even been born but Narcissa insisted that it was still as beautiful as ever. After the honey moon they would be taken directly to Hogwarts for a meeting with the headmaster in a day before school was to commence. Hermione clamped the trunk shut smiling at her handiwork.

"That should do." She stated happily.

"All packed I see," the familiar voice sounded from behind her.

"Yes Draco, I am. Are you?" The young witch turned a smile still gracing her features.

"I suppose so. I have never packed a trunk myself in my life. He finished.

"It really isn't nice to exploit house elves you know." Hermione frowned walking closer to the blond boy.

"Hey we have our entire lives for you to berate me on house elf etiquette, they have been packing my school trunk since first year. I am sure one last time won't hurt." He walked over to her trunk and picked it up.

Hermione looked surprised. "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like, I'm taking your trunk down stairs for you." He gave her a look that said, 'well duh'.

"So now you try and be the big man," she smirked.

Draco turned and looked at Hermione briefly.

"Oh don't worry Hermione, I am definitely a 'big' man", a smirk fell upon his face as his wife's complexion turned from a creamy colour to beat red.

"I'd watch it Hermione, you are starting to look like Weasley". He said, laughter evident in his voice as he walked out of the room.

It wasn't often that he upped the Griffindor brain in speech. Draco revelled in the knowledge that one penis joke could turn Hermione into a tomato. He may have to do that again sometime.

…….

The next day the pair set off by the floo network to the Malfoy cottage. Hermione with her one trunk of clothing and Draco with two.

"Honestly Draco, two trunks of clothing is excessive have you not heard of washing your clothes?" Hermione said as they unpacked their clothing that afternoon.

"Well I wouldn't want to be an out fit repeater" Draco told her.

Wow, was she really the man in this relationship?

"You know I have never seen you without a robe on at school anyway, so it would not matter what in merlins name you are wearing because it would be covered". She reasoned, "How would any one know that you would be outfit repeating?"

"I would know Hermione, I would know".

Hermione sighed and sat on Draco's bed, "Wow, I married a woman."

He turned glaring daggers her way, "I am not a woman, I already told you that".

"Doesn't mean I have to believe it." She said mischievously.

Draco picked up a pillow and threw it at her. Laughing Hermione got up and ran from the room. Her giggles resounded through the cottage.

Draco smiled. "One day I'll prove it to you". He said more to himself than her.

Shaking his head, ' I shouldn't think things like that. Just because she is a female means nothing.'

The blonde went back to the task at hand.

……..

"I think you got the better bed" Hermione said to Draco that night while that where sitting around.

"Oh really, and why is that?" He asked looking up from him book.

"It's bigger." She sounded whiny, he just kept learning different sides of her. Who knew that she could be more than just a heinous bitch. He smiled to himself at her silly proclamation.

"How can you say that, you are half my size! It isn't like you can take up the entire bed." He finished putting his book down and coming to stand beside her at the counter.

She huffed slightly looking at the Slytherin.

"What are you making?" He asked her intrigued.

"I was going to make steak and vegetables, pain I know but I like it." She continued to peel the potatoes.

"Aren't you going to use your wand?" Draco had never seen food being made without magic.

"I wasn't planning on it" she smiled at the look of child like wonder that was starting to show on her husbands face.

"So you are going to make it all by yourself, like a muggle?" He had never heard of it. Draco did know whether to be disgusted or impressed. He thought for his sake he better be impressed.

"Yes, I am. Would you like to help husband?" She smirked at the use of the name.

"I might muck it up, maybe I should just watch." He told her.

"Okay, suit yourself". Hermione told him getting back to the food.

Not long after, the newly wed couple sat together around a small table with wine and Hermione's creation. For the muggle born, cooking a simple meal of steak and veggies was something the did not merit much attention. Draco on the other hand thought it was bloody amazing. He wondered what else she could do.

Hermione smiled looking at Draco staring at his food apprehensively.

"It isn't going to bite Draco."
"I know, it is just. You made this by yourself. I have never made anything without magic before. You just know so much".

His little confession made Hermione beam. They were actually becoming friends. He wasn't being a complete bastard. Sure there was the occasional comment about her friends or Griffindors and small quibbles about trivial things but all in all the two were making head way.

That gave her hope.

"Why are you staring at me?" Her husband asked her.

"I'm not, eat your dinner." He looked at her with his 'I don't believe you' look.

"Really it's nothing. Just eat". Shaking his head he smiled taking a bite of his food.

"Yes mum".

The rest of the week went as a blur and Hermione and Draco's friendship grew and blossomed. Yes, the start of their marriage was not as catastrophic as they would have thought. However, that was without the out side worlds influence.

It was the last night of their honey moon as they were set to leave for Hogwarts the following morning.

Draco currently stood at the book case replacing a book he finally finished after a week long of reading. He smiled as his wife walked towards him.

"Hey you," He said to the girl, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yeah I think so, Draco do you think we can talk?" She asked him looking slightly worried.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" He asked moving to sit down on the couch, Hermione followed.

"Well I sort of just came to this conclusion" she said nervously, "Before I found out who I was, I hated you. Actually I'm pretty sure I hated you until last week. That is not the point however, I just wanted to tell you that it is going to be kind of weird not being able to talk to you at school when I have spent so much time with you. You are my friend now, and I would like us to stay that way." She did not look like she was finished, but Draco cut in.

"Hermione, where is this coming from?" He was confused.

"I'm just afraid that once we leave here and get back to the real world we will be contaminated. I don't want our friendship to fall apart when it has only just started."

Draco looked at Hermione, his friend and a strange feeling past through him. He had no idea what it was, but it compelled him to do something that he had never done in his entire life. He initiated a hug. Hermione gasped in surprise at the sudden contact but nestled into his chest a little. His embrace was somehow comforting.

"I had never made a promise before I said 'I do' Hermione, but I promise you that we will stay friends." He said into her hair. Pulling away he looked into her large hazel eyes. Smiling Draco touched her cheek lightly with the pad of his thumb. "You are changing me Hermione Granger."

"Malfoy, It's Hermione Malfoy now" She looked thoughtful for a minute, the Griffindor had not thought about that fact now. She was a Malfoy.

"So it is" He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. Another act of tenderness he did not know he possessed.

Hermione smiled. Maybe Malfoy wasn't the horrible git she had always new him to be.

There was time. After all they were married, they had there entire lives to figure each other out.

Hermione hugged Draco once more, she was going to enjoy their moment while it lasted.