Author's Note: Hello, wonderful readers! Thanks as always for all the review, follows, favourites, etc. I love hearing all your feedback about where this is going, it's definitely motivating! I only have another chapter and a bit of this pre-written as my muse has almost completely fallen off this story and been massively sidetracked on one of my other ones. I might try to post the first chapter of that one this weekend or next week, so keep an eye out! That said, I'd like to try to get back to this one to keep ahead of posting.

Hope you enjoy and drop a line xoxo

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise.

Granger had met him for lunch that day, but had only allowed him to kiss her, not shag her. That was alright, he would work on it. He knew it was only a matter of time before she would accept that they would shag on his desk. In the copy-room. The ladies' loo. Perhaps the lift. The possibilities were endless.

Thinking about it was distracting him a little too much. It was the end of day Friday and Draco was preparing to leave for the weekend.

Lila strolled casually into Draco's office, pretending to be interested in some paperwork on his desk.

"Hello, Lila," Draco said expectantly, smirking. He hadn't said anything to Lila about him and Granger but knew she was intuitive enough that she probably noticed a difference in him, if nothing else.

"Draco," she said briskly, "Are you coming to Blaise's tonight?"

"I think so," he responded, not letting anything on. He had yet to ask Granger to come with him.

"Alone?" she asked, not so subtly. Draco laughed shortly.

"See you later, Lila," he said, gathering his things and exiting the office, effectively ending the conversation. He met Granger's eyes across the room. Lila followed his gaze and ducked away, with a quick "bye!"

Draco walked over to Granger's desk, giving her his most winning smile.

"Hi," he said, leaning over her desk towards her.

"Malfoy," she responded briskly, standing to gather her things.

"Oh come on," he scoffed, "People can see us talk. That isn't new."

"I suppose you're right," she said, returning the smile. "So what are you doing tonight?"

"I've got an invite to Blaise's," he said, feeling a little nervous that she would say no. "You want to come? As my date?"

"I suppose that would be alright," she said, though he could tell she wasn't altogether too sure about it. He loved that she was willing to come anyway, for him.

"Great. Come over around 7? We will go together." He made sure to keep his voice down, so Granger wouldn't get flustered and change her mind.

"Sounds good," she bit her lip, momentarily, before smiling.

"See you then," he grinned, walking away.

On the ground floor, Draco ran into Lila. He knew better than to expect it was a coincidence.

"So what's new?" she asked casually, eyes wide.

Draco looked at her hopeful expression, sighed, then laughed.

"So Granger doesn't hate me," he admitted, lips twitching. "Currently."

"Draco! That's amazing," Lila said, grinning. "I'm so happy for you."

"Right, she's coming to Blaise's tonight and I can only imagine she will be very uncomfortable. She hasn't seen most of my friends since Hogwarts." Draco looked at her pointedly.

"I'll bring wine," Lila joked. At the look on Draco's face, she laughed. "Hermione will be fine, Draco, she can handle herself! But we will make sure she feels welcome."

"Thanks, Lila," Draco responded with a grin. "See you tonight."

With that he apparated home, feeling oddly nervous and excited.

At approximately twenty past seven, Draco was buttoning his shirt, nearly ready to leave for Blaise's. Granger was straightening her skirt, looking significantly more disheveled than she had twenty minutes prior when she had arrived.

Draco hadn't been able to resist.

Assessing her, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth, Draco tucked a stray curl back into place. She smiled, taking a step towards him.

"How do I look?" she asked softly, smiling.

"Stunning," he said without hesitation. He could tell she was nervous because usually she wouldn't have given a damn if people thought she looked nice or not.

"You know, Draco," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist, "I've been thinking that maybe we could do something with my friends, too, sometime."

"Sure, that's fine," he said. He had already expected this would come up.

"Really?" She sounded a bit shocked.

"Granger, eventually you'll realize I really would do anything you asked of me, and that I'm not just pretending to be a different person." He laughed. "I imagine you'll have a harder time asking Potter and Weasley."

She grimaced.

"You're probably right," she admitted. "Shall we go? We are already running late."

She gave him a pointed look. Draco held up his hands.

"Your fault." Before she could open her mouth to reply, Draco grabbed her hand and apparated them both to the house of his oldest friend.

Draco was positive he could get used to this. Relaxing with a glass of firewhisky, Granger at his side, curled into him, laughing at something his friends were talking about.

His friends had been more than welcoming, and Granger had relaxed almost immediately after having arrived. Draco was glad. He knew his friends were great people, but he knew that they were all former Slytherins.

He was pretty sure they also all knew to some varying degree how badly he had wanted Granger and for how long.

To his, and Granger's surprise, Astoria had been the first one to greet her, walking over and giving Granger a hug. He had met the bewildered brunette's eyes and just smiled. A couple times he had caught Astoria watching him, her eyes a bit wider and sparklier than they usually would have been.

Draco was also unnerved to no end.

Now that he was beginning to learn how this felt, he was terrified of the thought of going back to how things were, feeling so extremely lonely all the time because everyone else around him had someone and he didn't.

Things weren't exactly perfect with Granger either. There was still the issue that they worked together, and she had a tendency to pull away from him. He wasn't entirely sure this was all that different, although to Granger's credit she did seem to be making an effort. Also, the last time she had withdrawn was his fault.

Hell, she wasn't even his girlfriend. He didn't know how to ask either, or if it was too soon. Would Potter and Weasley try to persuade her that it was a bad idea? He didn't know.

He just knew that he needed to do whatever he could to keep this going.

"Are you alright?" Granger's soft voice jolted him from his train of thought. She was looking at him, concerned. After a pause he smiled.

"I'm great," he assured her. "Would you like another glass of wine?"

"Sure, thank you," she handed him her empty glass. Draco walked into Blaise's kitchen to fill both Granger's wine glass and his own with whisky. As he turned, Astoria was standing there beaming at him.

"Draco, I just wanted to say I'm so happy for you," she gushed, "Hermione is lovely."

"Thanks Astoria," Draco swallowed. Things had never quite gone back to normal between them but he appreciated the thought and still valued her as one of his good friends. "Now I just need to not fuck it up."

"Just be yourself, Draco, that's why she loves you," Astoria said. Draco nearly laughed.

"Oh Granger doesn't love me," he shook his head. "But maybe some day."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Astoria said softly. She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a quick hug. "That day might be closer than you think."

As she pulled away, Draco put a hand on her shoulder, touched by her words.

"Thanks again, Astoria," he said quietly. "I really do appreciate it."

As the two walked back into the living room, Draco met Granger's eyes. They sparkled as she smiled at him, a smile it seemed she had reserved only for him.

Could Granger love him some day? Maybe.

The thought was a reassuring one.

"Granger?" Draco asked, eyeing her cautiously.

It was Sunday evening. Granger had come over for dinner and they were now lounging on the couch, Granger laying on his chest as he absently played with her hair.

"Hermione," she corrected, smiling. "Yes?"

"Right, Hermione," he said, rolling his eyes. It still felt weird to say her given name. "Do you – erm. Never mind."

What the fuck.

"Do I what, Draco?" she asked, sitting up and looking at him, concerned.

"Did you want to stay over?" he asked, lamely.

Do you want to be my girlfriend.

It wasn't that hard.

"Oh, sure I suppose," she responded, confused. "Was that it? I've spent half the weekend here."

"Right, just checking. Because if you don't want to, just let me know. That's fine."

Why was he still talking? Inwardly Draco was cursing himself.

"It's fine, I don't mind staying over," she assured him, smiling. "Are you sure that's what you meant to ask me?"

Of course she could see right through him. She knew him well enough to know that he was usually a fairly eloquent speaker.

"No," he said softly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He took a deep breath. "Did you – want to be my girlfriend?" He said it all way too fast.

The words from his mouth sounded ridiculous and juvenile.

Granger was meeting with Potter and Weasley the following evening, alone. She thought it would be the best way to approach this. Draco was terrified they would say something to change her mind. He needed to know if this was something she wanted as well.

"Yes, I'd like that," she smiled. "You're funny when you're nervous."

Draco just stared at her, blankly, for a moment, taking in her words. He felt his lips tug into a smile.

Then he pounced on her.

The air on Monday morning felt much fresher as Draco walked into work, coffee in hand, approximately 4 minutes after Granger, as requested. He had decided it was best to pick his battles.

He wasn't sure if there would be backlash involved with being in a relationship with a co-worker. But wasn't keen to find out just yet. He would deal with one issue at a time, the first being that Granger was nervous to tell her friends about them.

He had been able to show Granger that he wasn't the same prat as he was in school, but it had been years since he had seen Potter and Weasley and he knew their memories would be sharp.

Regardless, he had slept better over the weekend than he could remember having slept in ages. Having Granger by his side was a very comforting feeling.

As he walked past her desk she bit her lip and smiled at him. It drove Draco crazy when she bit her lip.

It also brought back memories. Granger was far more willing than Draco had expected, especially when it came to trying things. Which was nice. Very nice.

Clearing his mind before it could become overrun with those sorts of thoughts, Draco settled in with his work for the day. He had meetings for most of the morning with new clients, which would keep him quite tied up and unfortunately quite without Granger. He would have to figure a way to meet with her.

The last thing Draco wanted was to look needy.

Gathering his files, Draco made his way to the board room for his first appointment.

That afternoon Draco had met with his team.. He had invited Granger as well, as she had mentioned potentially transferring back over the weekend. If she was, she would need to know where the team was at. It was nice to see her in a work setting again, interacting with the others.

As everyone was leaving for the day, Thomas Baxter stopped in the doorway beside Draco.

"Shite, Malfoy," he said, shaking his head. "You shagged Granger."

"What?" Draco asked sharply. "Where did you hear that?"

"Didn't hear it anywhere," Baxter continued. "Pretty obvious, the way you two were looking at each other."

"Really," Draco commented, thinking back. He probably had spent a lot of time watching her. He would have to be a bit more careful.

"By the way, good one mate," Baxter grinned. "I wish."

Despite the slight twinge in his stomach, Draco grinned back, realizing his friend was only playing.

"Get out of here," he responded, shaking his head. "See you tomorrow."

Baxter laughed and walked away, winking at Granger as he passed her desk. When Granger looked at him, curious, Draco simply shook his head, laughing. He wasn't worried about Baxter knowing.

Granger met him in his office as he was preparing to leave for the day.

"I'll stop by if its not too late, after, yeah?" she asked.

"Yes, do," he replied, nodding. He was nervous about her meeting with her friends. Nervous she might start second guessing a relationship with him. "I'd like to hear how it goes."

"Okay, see you later," she bit her lip, then gave him a quick kiss.

"Yes you will," he muttered under his breath. He was pretty sure she had heard him by the look she gave him.

He smiled. Granger allowed him to walk her down to the main floor and out to the apparition zone. He celebrated inwardly.

Granger hadn't stopped by. Instead she had sent an owl that she was quite tired and would see him at work the next day.

It gave Draco a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He hadn't known what to make of it. He hadn't responded. He debated apparating to her place but did not want to seem clingy.

As he walked into work the next day, coffee in hand, Granger was already working at her desk. She glanced up as he walked by, giving him a tight smile.

"Hey," she said softly, meeting his eyes.

"Hi," he replied, after a pause. "Meet me for lunch today? My treat."

"Sure," she said, then after another moment, starting sorting through her work for the day. Not sure how to take that, Draco nodded and walked off to his office, closing the door behind him.

If things had gone well last night, Granger would have most likely come over. Even just for a visit if not to stay. He found himself so caught up in his thoughts, his coffee was nearly gone before he got into any real work. It was very unlike him.

Shaking his head, he tried to put the thoughts aside. He would see her at lunch. There was no sense in pining.

Unfortunately Draco had been unable to clear his thoughts of her through the course of the morning and found himself behind in his work by lunch, unable to recall exactly what, if any, progress he had made with the report he had been working on.

He found himself nervous to see her. That wasn't a feeling he was used to with regards to women.

There was a soft knock on the door and then Granger quickly let herself in. She was nervously chewing her lower lip but offered a quick smile when he looked up at her.

"Just a minute," he said, organizing the pages he had been working on into a stack. It made him look as if he had been working harder than he had.

He walked over to her, pulled her in for a hug. She seemed to melt into him, burying her face in his chest. He knew she could feel his heart pounding.

Something felt wrong.

After a long moment Draco reluctantly let her go.

"Should we go for lunch?" he asked, not feeling much like going out.

"I was sort of thinking we could stay in," she responded, pulling two sandwiches from her bag, smiling.

"That's perfect," Draco grinned, relaxing.

Granger pushed one of his guest chairs against the wall, transfiguring it into a couch. Draco wondered why he had never thought to do that.

Granger sat cross-legged on one side of the couch, silently unwrapping one of the sandwiches while Draco sat with his, untouched.

He hoped they could clear the tension but had no idea what to say.

"So last night was interesting," Granger began, conversationally, after taking a bite of her sandwich. She set it down in her lap.

Draco just stared at her, raising an eyebrow. She laughed shortly. She took his hand and laced her fingers into his. It felt reassuring and Draco relaxed just a bit.

"Go on," he said shortly.

"Well let's just say Ron and Harry weren't happy to hear that you and I are in a relationship." She frowned but didn't let go of his hand. "I told them they ought to get to know you, to see that you aren't how you were in school. They got quite upset with me, told me I didn't know what I was thinking. All sorts of things, really."

Draco instinctively squeezed her hand tighter. She frowned, thinking back.

"Ron stormed out and left. Harry said I'm not the person he thought I was," she said softly.

She met his eyes and Draco just stared back at her. He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to cause her any unhappiness. He hated that they had treated her badly and wished he would have been there.

It was probably a good thing he hadn't been, though – he might have knocked them out.

He remembered Granger had once told him that Weasley had always expected she would end up with him. The thought still made Draco cringe.

He looked down at her hand, still in his. He ran his thumb over the soft skin on the back of her hand.

He didn't want to ask but he had to.

"So where does this leave us?" He met her eyes again, nervous as hell. This crazy brunette had turned his life upside down and he couldn't imagine going back.

"I don't know," she said, so quietly Draco almost didn't hear her. "I hope, still right here."

Draco could have sworn his heart skipped a beat.

"But they're your closest friends," he replied, "I can see you're upset."

"It is my hope that I will be able to speak to them again, once they've had some time," she said, glancing at him. "Maybe, someday, you'll come with me."

"Okay," Draco replied instantly. "If that's what you want."

"Thanks for being so understanding, Draco," she bit her lip. "Sorry I didn't come over last night."

Draco shook his head, feeling the ghost of a smile for the first time since she had walked into the room. He pulled her closer to him, kissing her hair.

"It's totally fine," he said, knowing she wasn't convinced. He certainly didn't want to make her feel worse. "Just remember I'm here if you need me."

"I will," she agreed, smiling. "Now eat your sandwich. I made it for you."

Draco raised an eyebrow, picking up the sandwich.

"And if I don't?" he teased, grinning.

"Then maybe I won't come over this week," she pondered, then smiled, taking a bite of her own sandwich. Draco laughed out loud.

"We both know you can't resist me," he muttered, but acquiesced and ate the sandwich, not letting go of Granger's hand.