A/N: sorry for the delay guys, I was out of the country so I had no access to the internet for a while. Anyway here's the next chapter! Hope you like it

Hermione woke up with a groan, cracking her eyes open slightly. She stretched her limbs out and brought her elbows up to rest on her forehead. She felt sore all over. Trying to recall the events that occurred last night, she let out another groan.

"Is something the matter?"

Her eyes shot open and she jolted up, smacking her head hard against Draco's head. He let out a small "oomph," as he rolled away from his spot on the bed where he was laying next to her. Hermione felt the sheets slipping from over her body and a cool breeze drifted through her. Looking down, she let out another yelp and clutched the sheets to her body, covering herself up. She peeked up to see Draco rubbing his head hard, muttering to himself.

"Draco?" she said. "What happened last night?" she asked in a small voice, sounding confused. Draco smiled and let out a small chuckle.

"Let's just say that we're working on giving Mother her grandchild," he said with a wink. Hermione felt her face whiten as she heard him say that.

"W-what?" her question tugged Draco's grin into the slightest of frowns. "Don't you remember, Pansy?" he asked, perturbed. Hermione shook her head as the details of the previous night swam back into her mind, displaying itself in front of her eyes. She gulped, her face growing hot.

"No, no, Draco," she said. "I remember, I'm just a bit tired, that's all," she said slowly, somehow managing to keep her face neutral, careful not to give any of her feelings away. Sitting up straighter, she clutched the sheets closer to her body, trying to still her trembling hands. Draco smiled, oblivious, and rolled onto his back and stretched his arms out across the cool sheets. "Me too," he said happily. "But it was worth it," he said, exhaling heavily. She looked down, her cheeks blushing crimson. Her eyes drifted across his lean form lying in bed.

Hermione nodded dumbly, silent. Clambering out of bed, she made her way to the shower. She shut the door behind her and slid down, huddling her knees to herself. Clips of events played randomly in her head, each as if in slow motion. Draco sliding his hands up and down her body. Draco grabbing her hips roughly as he turned them over in bed. Her responding to every move he made, running her fingers through his hair and up and down his chest; clutching his back as he touched her and brought her to new levels of ecstasy that she never knew existed. Her face reddened as she recalled her voice moaning out his name, encouraging him further as he paid special attention to her neck. She bit her lip, guilt suddenly surging through the heat she felt in her stomach.

All that time waiting for the chance to be with Ron after they got married... She had given herself to someone else, someone who she thought that she would never have to even entertain the thought. "Ron," she whispered softly to herself, dipping her head down to rest on her knees. She felt so guilty. How was she supposed to break this to him? How could he ever forgive her, when she would never be able to forgive herself?

The sound of the doorknob trying to turn brought her out of her thoughts. She clambered up, wiping her eyes as a few tears escaped her eyelids with the back of her hand. She quickly turned the lock in the door, locking herself in.

"Pansy, let me in! You've been in there forever," Draco's voice trickled through the door. "I need to take a shower!" Hermione leaned her head on the door, trying to compose herself.

"Just a second," she called, taking care to steady her shaking voice. She leaned her hands on the sink and stared at the reflection staring back at her in the mirror. She looked at her clear blue eyes, her thick, raven black hair, her pale skin... She wanted to scream. This was not her. This was not Hermione Granger. She did not want to be here, stuck in a life that was not hers; stuck in a life which path was most definitely entwined with Draco Malfoy. She wanted to be with Ron. Short tempered, loyal, cluelessly sweet Ronald Weasley. The love of her life. Not this sappy two faced Slytherin who had been sure to torment her for the better part of seven years; the man who had made sure to tread on every bit of self respect and dignity she had whenever he had the chance.

Yet... She felt different with Draco, despite all the horrible memories she had of him in her childhood and adolescence. He made her reach different heights of... she couldn't put her finger on the exact feeling. Was it lust? There was something different in the way she felt about him... Something that was entirely different than the feelings she had with Ron. She dreamily drifted back to the previous night, nibbling her lip as she remembered more and more. The heat returned, pooling in the pit of her stomach.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Come on, Hermione," she said to herself. "You can do this. Just do what you always do, use your brains and get yourself out of this mess," she told her reflection, nodding firmly. Drying her eyes, she ran her fingers through her hair and waved her wand, making a set of clothes appear from thin air. She fixed herself up and held her head high, opening the door to see Draco sprawled across the bed, snoring loudly.

He must have fallen back asleep. She looked around the room, thinking hard. Perhaps she could find the answers to all of her questions today. She glanced back at his sleeping form. He looked like he wouldn't be up for a while. She would use this opportunity to talk to Merlin.

Making her way downstairs, she tried to find the fireplace where Merlin's painting hung above. She followed a hallway that looked rather familiar, and let out a sigh of relief when it opened up to the landing where the fireplace was. She walked over to the painting and looked at it, gazing in wonder as she stared at the slumbering wizard clutching the wooden staff in his hand, the glowing ball of magic rotating slowly inside the intricate cage of wood. A lock of his long moustache dangled in front of his mouth, being brought in and out in time with every inhale and exhale that he took.

Hermione cleared her throat in an attempt to wake him up. Unfortunately, all that accomplished was Merlin turning away in his sleep. He carried on snoring, his head dropping further on the plush red chair. She cleared her throat again, to no avail. "Excuse me, Sir…?"

She was replied with a snort and a few smacking of the lips. She drew her eyebrows together in annoyance. Pulling out her wand, she prodded the painting with the tip, managing to poke his eye. He awoke with a start, letting out a roar.

"MY EYE," he exclaimed. "MY BIG, BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYE". Hermione watched Merlin in amusement as he clutched his eye dramatically, moaning about how his eyes were never going to be the same again.

"Oh hush," Hermione waved a hand in dismissal. "How could that have possibly hurt? I barely touched you ."

Merlin sat up quite suddenly at the sound of her voice and peered down at her. "Ah, Madam Pansy," he greeted stiffly. "To what do I owe you this pleasant encounter?"

"Rather a bit dramatic for such a great wizard," muttered Hermione to herself.

"What was that, my dear? I didn't quite catch that, my eye is in excruciating pain. I can't hear a thing," Merlin sighed mournfully, shaking his head as he clucked his tongue. Hermione resisted the urge to stick her wand in his other eye and smiled politely at the portrait. "I don't think that your eye has anything to do with your hearing," she pointed out. Merlin narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're good, kiddo," said Merlin, sobering up very quickly. "What is it that you want, Pansy?"

"I have a few questions," she replied. Merlin leaned back in his chair, looking bored. "Go ahead," he said, mimicking Hermione as he waved his hand in dismissal as she had done a few moments ago.

"Well, I-" Hermione began. She was cut off by a loud exaggerated yawn by Merlin. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I-" she tried again before she was cut off once more as his eyes drifted shut and a loud snore escaped his lips.

"You know what? I don't need your help," she huffed, turning her heel and stalking away. Merlin awoke with a jolt, springing out of his plush red chair.

"Wait, wait!" called Merlin from his portrait. Hermione paused and turned around, facing him. "I'm sorry, Madam Pansy. Please come back," he pleaded.

"I'd rather not," she replied haughtily. "You're acting quite rude and childish today. I'll visit when you've decided to act your age," she said. Merlin chuckled.

"Madam, if I acted my age, I would very well be dead and buried," he said with a very Dumbledore-like twinkle in his eye. Hermione sighed and walked back to him.

"I'm sorry, Madam Pansy," he apologized again. "You know that I get rather cranky right after I wake up," he said, a rather pensive look in his eye.

Hermione sighed. Of course. "Apparently I do," she said tiredly. Merlin let out a small laugh.

"I must say, you are rather terrible at acting, Madam."

Hermione's eyes widened a fraction at his words."Er, I don't know what you're talking about," she said nervously, casting her eyes and avoiding eye contact. Merlin shook his head, letting out a little laugh. "Oh, Hermione Granger, you underestimate me. I'm sure you are very curious as to what you are doing here," he said, smiling knowingly. Hermione took a step back.

"You know what happened?" she stammered, flabbergasted. Merlin nodded slowly, the ball of magic atop the staff seeming to glow even brighter as he smiled at her. Hermione stood there with her jaw slack, feeling a mixture of relief and disbelief. Now she could get all of her answers. Maybe she could return to her real body. She could get back with Ron. She could-

An emerald green flame burst in front of her in the fireplace, interrupting her excited train of thought. A white-blonde head emerged from the flames, followed by a slim body dressed in extravagant silky blue robes. Narcissa Malfoy stepped out of the fireplace and straightened herself, smoothing her robes down with her hands. Her contemplative pout stretched out into a smile as her eyes met Hermione.

"Oh," she exclaimed happily. "My daughter-in-law was waiting for my arrival! How delightful," she clapped her hands together and proceeded to walk into the manor, forcing Hermione to follow her. She casted a rueful glance behind her at Merlin, who resumed his place in his chair in his portrait. He waved sympathetically at her as she was dragged away by Narcissa.

Hermione held back a small scream of frustration. She was so close to finding out her answers. Hell, she would have probably gotten them and would be half way to figuring out how to set things straight if it wasn't for this infernal woman. She plastered a fake smile as Narcissa lead her to their bedroom, babbling constantly about some upcoming event. Hermione nodded and smiled as she tuned out Narcissa's voice, not noticing that the elder woman was turning the knob to the room.

"OH MY GOD, MOTHER!"

"DRACO! MY EYES!"

Hermione was brought out of her limbo as she heard Draco and his mother's voice yell out. She looked around to see Draco jump behind a changing screen just in time and Narcissa slam their door shut, her cheeks reddening.

"I should really learn how to knock," she muttered to Hermione, casting her eyes to the ground. Hermione rolled her eyes. Well honestly, what was she going to expect, just barging in on someone like that in their own room. He wasn't five anymore. The two women stood in awkward silence outside of the room; the only audible sound was the rummaging coming from inside of the room that was from Draco looking for something to wear.

Just when Hermione was about to say something to break the silence, the door flew open. Draco stepped out, dressed in a clean wizard suit, straightening his tie. He awkwardly averted his eyes away from his mother and settled them on Hermione. She stifled a sigh. It felt as if his gaze alone turned her insides into soft, melted butter.

"I'm late for a meeting," he said, pulling the tie into a knot. His voice was so deep...

She frowned, snapping herself out of her thoughts. She was with Ron. She did not know what this feeling was, but she loved Ron. She-

He growled in frustration as the tie nestled in an awkward position at the base of his throat. Hermione lost her train of thought and stared at him. He was about to yank the tie off when Hermione stepped in and gently tugged the tie out of its knot and loosened it. She pulled the collar of his shirt up and adjusted the tie around his neck and lightly pulled it back into a knot that was tied snugly in the hollow of his throat. She raised her blue eyes and bore into his stormy grey eyes, holding his gaze, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Well," breathed Narcissa. "Looks like you're in good hands, Son." Draco cleared his throat gruffly at his mother's words.

"Yes, I am," he replied, a brief smile gracing his pale face. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Mother, I have to get to my meeting. Pansy, I'll pick you up for lunch at one," he said. Turning on the spot, he Disapparated with a loud crack.

Narcissa glanced back at Hermione and beamed. "Well, I have to be off to see Lucius. I'll see you both in a couple of days."

Hermione nodded. "That would be lovely," she said politely. Narcissa strode past her and disappeared into the crackle of green fire. She sighed. Now she had the house to herself. She could finally get her answers with no interruptions.

She walked slowly to the fireplace, taking her place in front of the painting. Merlin cast a grin towards her which she returned. "Now," said Merlin. "What would you like to know?"

A/N: so what do you guys think? Please leave a review!